EU trade union urges new heat laws as 130m workers exposed
Europe's largest trade union research body is calling for binding EU legislation to protect workers from heatwaves, a move that could impose new compliance costs on businesses already losing up to a quarter of productivity during extreme temperatures.
The European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) has proposed new European legislation to protect workers from extreme heat. The research centre, affiliated with the European Trade Union Confederation, warned on Thursday that climate change is turning rising temperatures into a continent-wide occupational hazard.
The economic implications for businesses are severe. According to the ETUI report, around 130 million workers across Europe are currently exposed to workplace heat stress. This exposure results in an estimated 277,000 related injuries and 230 deaths annually, creating significant liabilities and operational disruptions for employers.
Productivity takes a direct hit as temperatures climb above the optimal working level of 16 degrees Celsius. "Beyond that, for every 1°C rise, there is an average productivity loss of around 2%," said Andreas Flouris, a professor of physiology at the University of Thessaly and one of the report's authors.
The financial drain varies by region but is no longer confined to southern Europe. "During an average heatwave in southern Europe, productivity losses reach around 20 to 25%. In central Europe, the figure is between 8 and 14%, and even in Scandinavia, we have recorded losses of 3 to 6% due to heatwaves over the course of a year," Flouris added.
A 2025 survey by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) found that one in five EU workers reported exposure to extreme heat at work in the previous 12 months. "The problem is the worst in the south, of course; that's where we see most of the accidents. At the same time, though, we have been recording the highest increases in accidents in central and northern Europe," Flouris said. "The south is already hot, and it's a problem. But the centre and the north are catching up very fast."
To address the escalating crisis, the ETUI is pushing for an EU-wide mandatory heat risk assessment. "What we propose is a mandatory heat risk assessment, in order to oblige employers to assess and identify the risks related to heat exposure in their workplace. Only by knowing what we are dealing with can we protect workers and prevent the risks associated with heat exposure at work," said Marouane Laabbas-el-Guennouni, a researcher at the institute.
The proposal also recommends moving beyond simple temperature readings to measure danger. The authors argue that employers should be required to use a broader heat stress index that factors in humidity and wind speed when determining exposure levels. Researchers note that because heatwaves are predictable, the resulting injuries and economic losses are largely preventable through proactive regulation.
