German Unions Push for Mandatory Heat Protection as Daily Economic Losses Hit €431 Million

Berlin — With temperatures climbing toward 40 degrees Celsius under the high-pressure system “Olaf,” German unions and opposition politicians are demanding legally enforceable heat-protection rules for workers. The push follows a DGB survey showing one in three employees already feels severely stressed by high temperatures on the job.

The Left Party unveiled a five-point heat-protection plan on July 27, anchored by a proposed “heat short-time work benefit” for outdoor workers. Party leader Luigi Pantisano described June’s unusually high number of heat-related deaths as a wake-up call. The plan would make cooling measures mandatory under Germany’s Workplace Ordinance, require publicly accessible cool rooms within a 15-minute walk, expand public swimming pools, and launch a social renovation program.

Two weeks earlier, DGB chairwoman Yasmin Fahimi had already called for a statutory “heat compensation benefit.” According to the trade union federation, each hot day costs the German economy roughly €431 million. Fahimi warned of widespread work stoppages, production losses and rising accident risks. The DGB survey of 4,000 employees found that when time pressure is added, the share of workers reporting high heat stress jumps to 48 percent.

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Current Law Leaves Employers in Charge

Germany’s Workplace Ordinance sets temperature thresholds but grants no automatic right to stop work or take extra breaks. Employers must take initial countermeasures when indoor temperatures hit 26 degrees Celsius. At 30 degrees, those measures become compulsory. At 35 degrees, a workspace is considered unsuitable for work unless protective steps are taken.

The decision on what to do — from blinds and fans to flexible working hours — rests with the employer. Workers only have the right to leave a workplace if there is an immediate health danger. Experts advise documenting such cases carefully.

Industry Responses Diverge

The transport and construction sectors are reacting in markedly different ways. DB Infrago will partially suspend its track-access contract from July 30 to August 6 when temperatures exceed 35 degrees, allowing railway companies to hold trains to protect network stability. Local transit operators criticized the move, arguing commuters still need service.

In Switzerland, the Baumeisterverband (construction industry association) launched a petition on July 28 seeking fair conditions during heatwaves. It wants developers to plan for hot days in advance and absorb the costs, with penalty clauses for weather-related delays dropped.

Local governments are also weighing in. The Mannheim SPD called on July 28 for a state-level funding program to install heat protection in daycare centers, schools and nursing homes. The party warned that extreme heat is increasingly becoming an education problem when infrastructure is not adapted.

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While retailers report record sales of ice cream and mineral water, the broader debate over permanent legal protections — such as the proposed heat compensation benefit — shows no sign of cooling. A cold front with thunderstorm and flash-flood risk is forecast for the weekend, but the question of how to adapt Germany’s workplaces to a hotter climate will persist long after the weather changes.

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