The progressive faction seeks to broaden employment opportunities.
In the face of climate change, the Left Party is advocating for better protection of workers from excessive heat. When temperatures in the office or on the street hit 26 degrees Celsius, work hours should be reduced by a quarter, suggesting a 10-minute extension to the daily break. At 30 degrees, work hours could be cut in half.
Jan van Aken, co-chair of the Left Party, believes that the climate crisis is already a social crisis, with workers who toil under the scorching sun or sit in overheated offices bearing the brunt of the heat. "Working effectively and concentrating in an office above 30 degrees is impossible. Heat stress can lead to a range of health problems," van Aken highlights.
Heat Protections: What's Next?
By July 2025, van Aken hopes the federal government will implement the following measures:
- An additional 10-minute break per hour when temperatures are over 26 degrees.
- The right to sufficient water and sun protection at the workplace.
- The right to work remotely when temperatures exceed 26 degrees.
- A 25% reduction in full-time hours when temperatures are over 30 degrees.
For temperatures above 30 degrees, the following changes are proposed:
- A break every 30 minutes
- Fans at the workplace
- Reduced working hours to 50%
Additionally, van Aken calls for free sunscreen dispensers at beaches and more water stations in cities in the proposed action plan.
Union and AfD Decline the Proposal
The Union dismissed the heat break demand, citing existing regulations, while the AfD outright rejected the entire Left Party proposal. The Greens, however, support the idea of adjusted work regulations for protecting workers from extreme heat.
Tackling Heat in the Workplace: Key Insights
Currently, a room temperature up to 26 degrees Celsius is considered tolerable according to workstation guidelines. When temperatures rise, employers are expected to take action to ensure the health and safety of their employees. At a room temperature exceeding 35 degrees, employees have the right to refuse work and seek alternative, cooler workspaces.
Construction workers, garbage collectors, and other outdoor workers are also protected by regulations. They must be provided with appropriate sun protection, such as parasols, hats, protective cream, and enough drinking water.
Sources:
- ntv.de
- mau/AFP
Keywords:
- Heat in the Workplace
- Labor Law
- Jan van Aken
- Climate Change
- The Left
- Union
- AfD
- Greens
- Health, Adaptation, Protection Measures, Outdoor Workers, Work Regulations, Heat Stress, Work Protections, Temperature Thresholds, Workplace Guidelines, Employer Obligations, Reduced Working Hours, Heat Breaks, Cooling Breaks, Sun Protection, Worker Safety
- The Left Party is urging for a community policy that includes expanded breaks during summer heatwaves, as part of their call for better protection of workers from excessive heat due to climate change.
- Jan van Aken, co-chair of the Left Party, proposes federal policy-and-legislation changes by July 2025, such as additional breaks per hour and the right to work remotely when temperatures are over 26 degrees.
- In light of the climate crisis, van Aken also calls for environmental-science-based solutions, like free sunscreen dispensers at beaches and more water stations in cities, to address health-and-wellness issues related to heat.
- The science behind heat stress and its effects on worker productivity, concentration, and overall health-and-wellness makes it crucial to address this issue through policy changes in our political climate.
