Germany's June Heat Wave Killed 1,200 People in One State — Unions Say Workers Need Paid Protection
Published on 07/18/2026 at 04:22 | Redaktion boerse-global.de
A single June heat wave killed roughly 1,200 people in North Rhine-Westphalia alone, according to data cited by the German Trade Union Federation (DGB). The figure underscores what the DGB calls a "dramatic" increase in workplace heat stress that now affects one in three employees nationwide.
The DGB's chairwoman, Yasmin Fahimi, on Friday demanded a state-funded Hitze-Ausfallgeld — a compensation payment for lost work time due to extreme heat. She pointed to economic data showing that each hot day costs the German economy €431 million.
"We need not only financial compensation but practical measures like shading, free drinks and relaxed dress codes," Fahimi said.
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The union's call is backed by a new survey of roughly 4,000 workers. It found that 33 percent of all employees feel burdened by heat. Among those working under time pressure, the share rises to 48 percent; among workers without that pressure, it drops to 23 percent.
Productivity numbers reinforce the urgency. Scientific studies show work efficiency drops noticeably once temperatures hit 27 to 28 degrees Celsius. An Allianz analysis found that each degree above 30°C cuts productivity by an additional three percent. The European Central Bank has identified manufacturing, mining and pharmaceuticals as the sectors most affected.
Berlin has already recorded nine hot days in 2026 — double the average of fewer than five per year in the 1950s. The climbing mercury is driving policy response. North Rhine-Westphalia's state parliament voted on Thursday to intensify climate-adaptation measures. Hospitals and nursing homes must receive better heat protection, and lawmakers called for air conditioning in schools and daycare centres, along with a review of heat-free rules and the country's labour laws.
Local authorities are not waiting. In the Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald district, garbage collectors may start work as early as 5 a.m. during heat warnings, a rule in force until September 15. The German Association of Cities has urged more mindful water use and uniform pricing for large-volume consumers.
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Some industries already have negotiated heat protections. Scaffolders won a summer pay scheme starting in May: when weather stops work between May and August, they receive up to 75 percent of their hourly wage for a maximum of 50 hours per year. Roofers have had a similar deal since 2020.
The construction union IG BAU wants to go further, pushing for a year-round climate short-time work allowance that would also cover agriculture. Experts advise companies to adopt flexible working hours and technical aids such as fans.
"What is clear," Fahimi said, "is that summers are getting hotter and the pressure on employers is growing."
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