Left Party on a Mission: Expanding Heat Breaks for Worker Protection
The progressive faction seeks broader employment opportunities.
In the face of climate crisis, the Left Party aims to enhance worker protection from the scorching summer heat. Their plan involves extending daily breaks by ten minutes when temperatures reach 26 degrees, whether it's in the office or outdoors. The Greens endorse this initiative, while the Union and AfD consider it impractical.
Jan van Aken, a key figure in the Left Party, champions a heat break system at workplaces. According to an action paper reported by German Editorial Network (RND), half of the daily working hours may be reduced when temperatures soar to 30 degrees, and quarter reduction at 26 degrees.
"Climate crisis is no longer just an environmental issue, it's a social crisis. workers who toil under the burning sun or are stuck in a stuffy office often suffer from health issues," van Aken stated to RND. "One can't focus or work effectively in a sweltering office above 30 degrees." Heat stress can lead to several health problems, van Aken warned, "be it office work or manual labor."
Left's Urgent Call to Action
The Left Party urges the federal government to implement immediate measures by July 2025. Specifically, the Workplace Ordinance should be tightened, requiring:
- Additional Breaks: A ten-minute break per hour at temperatures above 26 degrees.
- Water Access: The right to adequate water and sun protection.
- Flexible Working: The right to remote work.
- Reduced Hours: A 25 percent reduction in full-time hours when temperatures are above 26 degrees.
For temperatures exceeding 30 degrees, working hours should be halved, allowing a ten-minute break every half hour, and fans should be provided at the workplace. van Aken also advocates for free sunscreen dispensers at beaches and more water dispensers in cities in his action paper.
Responses from the Union, AfD, and Greens
The Union rejects the heat break demand, citing existing safety regulations. "Germany already has a robust safety system in place for work - even during extreme heat," said Marc Biadacz, Union's labor and social policy spokesman, to "Welt." The Left's initiative is seen as "utopian and economically hardly feasible - especially for industries like crafts, care work, or the public sector," Biadacz added.
The AfD rebukes the entire Left proposal. "It's not the government's job to dictate company behavior, but to trust companies to take necessary measures for their employees' well-being," said Martin Sichert, AfD's health policy spokesman, to "Welt."
The Greens back "adapted working time regulations," stating "workers, especially those outside in the sun, such as construction laborers, garbage collectors or window cleaners, face increased health stress and skin cancer risk during heat. Employers should adopt customized heat protection plans for each operation," said Andreas Audretsch, deputy chairman of the Green faction.
Fivekey Takeaways: Working in the Heat
Currently, a room temperature up to 26 degrees Celsius is considered manageable per technical workplace regulations. If temperatures climb, employers should assess individual employee health safety. From 30 degrees, they must intervene, utilizing measures such as sunshades on windows, providing drinks, or allowing more frequent breaks. Relaxing dress codes and requiring less formal dress can also help when room temperatures rise. If temperatures exceed 35 degrees, the room is no longer suitable for work. Employees have the right to refuse to work in such conditions, and are entitled to longer cooling breaks or an alternative workspace.
Workers in outdoor jobs such as construction, garbage collection, or window cleaning are subject to specific regulations in the heat. Protection measures might include umbrellas, hats, appropriate sunscreen, and ample drinking water.
- The Left Party proposes amending the Employment Policy to include provisions for additional breaks, water access, flexible working, and reduced hours in extreme heat conditions, echoing concerns about workplace health and wellness in relation to climate change.
- In the midst of the climate crisis, Science plays a crucial role in informing the Left Party's policies, particularly in Environmental Science, as they aim to address health-and-wellness issues arising from heat stress experienced by workers.
- The Left Party's bold policies on expanding heat breaks for worker protection have garnered attention in the realm of Politics, sparking debate among political parties such as the Union, AfD, and Greens, each holding varying views on the practicality and feasibility of the proposed measures.
