Germany's Left Party Pushes for Mandatory Heat Protection as 92,722 Sick Days Linked to Extreme Temperatures
18.06.2026 - 01:33:27 | boerse-global.de
With a blistering heatwave set to push temperatures toward 41°C in parts of Germany, the Left Party is demanding a legally binding overhaul of workplace protections. Party floor leaders Heidi Reichinnek and Sören Pellmann have proposed a two-track system that would give outdoor and indoor workers separate forms of relief.
For employees on construction sites, delivery routes, or other outdoor locations, the party envisions a “Klima-Kurzarbeitergeld” — a climate-related short-time allowance funded through a solidarity model. It would kick in during extreme heat or high UV exposure. Indoor workers, meanwhile, would be entitled to mandatory shorter hours with full wage compensation as soon as room temperatures cross defined thresholds.
Many UK employers are unaware of the compliance gaps in their heat-related risk assessments. Under UK law, failing to document adequate measures can lead to enforcement action. A free Health & Safety Toolkit provides ready-to-use risk assessment templates and checklists to ensure your workplace meets legal obligations for extreme temperatures and other hazards. Download the free Health & Safety Toolkit
The current rules under Germany’s Workplace Ordinance (Arbeitsstättenverordnung) are too vague, the party argues. Reichinnek and Pellmann are calling for a formal bill that embeds heat protection as a permanent pillar of occupational safety and rethinks how heat-related illnesses are classified as occupational diseases.
Federal data underscores the urgency. In 2023, Germany recorded 92,722 sick-leave days directly attributed to heat and sunlight. The burden fell disproportionately: 63,145 days were taken by men, 29,577 by women. But the health impact stretches beyond sick notes. The Hessian Office for Nature Conservation (Hessisches Landesamt für Naturschutz) warns that city centres can be up to 10°C hotter than surrounding areas, putting older adults, the chronically ill, and people without access to cooled spaces at particular risk. For Hesse alone, the Robert Koch Institute estimates that around 740 heat-related deaths occurred in 2018.
Current rules and the weather reality
Today, employers are required to consider initial measures once indoor temperatures hit 26°C. Above 30°C, concrete steps such as ventilation or providing drinks become mandatory. At 35°C, a room is considered unsuitable for work unless protective measures are in place. Workers have no automatic right to “Hitzefrei” and cannot simply walk off the job.
Under the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, UK employers have a duty to protect workers from heat stress and other workplace risks. A free toolkit offers nine practical tools including risk assessments, checklists, and director liability guides to help you stay compliant and avoid costly penalties. Download the free Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 Toolkit
Schools follow separate guidelines. In North Rhine-Westphalia, principals can declare heat-free days from 27°C upward — but not for upper secondary students. Saxony leaves the decision entirely to individual schools, with no fixed thresholds.
The immediate catalyst is the high-pressure system “Gorgias,” which is funnelling hot air from North Africa into central Europe. The Upper Rhine and Rhine-Main region could see readings up to 41°C. Adding to the strain are tropical nights where the mercury does not dip below 20°C, preventing buildings from cooling and bodies from recovering overnight.
Meteorologists describe the wave as exceptional — not for its absolute temperatures, but for its timing in June and its projected seven- to ten-day duration. The political window for reform may be equally brief.
