A new circular with emergency measures to address thermal stress for private sector workers on Thursday (24/7) was issued today by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, as the heatwave reaches its peak. According to the announcement, the suspension of manual work in outdoor spaces becomes mandatory during the time period of 11:00-17:00.
The Ministry’s circular states the following:
Measures to address thermal stress for private sector workers
To address thermal stress for employees with dependent employment relationships in the private sector of the economy, employers must implement technical and organizational protection measures, according to the indicative and non-restrictive list of circular No. 34666/03.06.2024 titled “Prevention of thermal stress for workers” (ADA: RG1N46NLDG-OO6).
Mandatory work suspension for outdoor activities
For workers in enterprises located in areas where, according to the latest forecasting data from the National Meteorological Service (EMY), particularly high temperatures and discomfort levels (WBGT) are expected to prevail in all regions of the country, except for the Ionian Islands, the Western Macedonia Region, the Ioannina Regional Unit, the mountainous areas of mainland Greece, and the mountainous areas of Crete, work suspension becomes mandatory on Thursday 24.07.2025, during the time period 11:00-17:00, for manual work performed in outdoor spaces, such as work on technical and construction projects, construction sites, shipbuilding and repair zones, distribution and transport of products and objects with two-wheeled vehicles, scooters, roller skates (delivery), etc.
It is noted that the above cases of mandatory work suspension include all workers regardless of their type of employment, including digital platforms under Article 68 of Law 4808/2021.
In the case where the delivery work suspension measure is applied for delivery businesses, this concerns all businesses that conduct delivery services, whether they maintain a physical store or digital platform. However, the option of order-taking with customer pickup directly from the store/pickup point (takeaway) may remain active, as well as the possible ability to execute orders with private and public use vehicles other than all forms of motorcycles and mopeds, as defined in the provisions of the Highway Code, provided these vehicles have air conditioning.
Work suspension does not apply to economic activities concerning important and socially critical infrastructure in the sectors of health, transport, and public utilities (e.g., health units, water supply, electricity, air transport, handling, maritime, land, and rail transport), provided that other technical and organizational measures from circular No. 34666/03.06.2024 “Prevention of thermal stress for workers” (ADA: RG1N46NLDG-OO6) are implemented, including work time organization.
In case of non-compliance with the obligations of this circular, the Labor Inspectorate imposes, according to Articles 23 and 24 of Law 3996/2011 (A’ 170), a monetary fine of two thousand (2,000) euros per employee of the enterprise.
Provision of remote work through teleworking
For employees with dependent employment relationships in the private sector who belong to high-risk groups (Table of Appendix 2 of circular No. 34666/03.06.2024) and especially in cases of exposure to aggravating conditions in the areas of paragraph B of this circular, enterprises should take care to provide the possibility of remote work when feasible based on the nature of their work.
Emergency measures for work time organization
To address thermal stress for workers in the areas of paragraph B of this circular and to facilitate workers during any change in their arrival and departure times from work, employers may not register in advance in the ERGANI P.S. every change in work time organization.
