Union Slams Left's Push for Extended Heat Breaks at Work as Utopian
The progressive faction pushes for job market expansion.
In the scorching heat of the climate crisis, the Left Party is swinging into action, proposing an extension of daily work breaks by ten minutes when temperatures hit 26 degrees Celsius at workplaces. The Greens are on board, while the Union and AfD maintain this plan is unrealistic.
Left Party co-chair Jan van Aken, as reported by the German Editorial Network (RND), advocates for a significant overhaul of heat protection at workplaces. In his paper entitled "Heat Protection is Occupational Safety - Act Now," he suggests reducing full-time hours by 25% and 50%, respectively, at 26 and 30 degrees Celsius.
"The climate catastrophe has become a social crisis. Workers suffering under the blazing sun or sweltering in overheated offices frequently pay the price with their health," van Aken told RND. He emphasizes that no one can concentrate or work effectively in a 30-degree or hotter office. Heat stress may lead to health complications for both office workers and those performing manual labor outdoors.
Van Aken is urging the federal government to implement these measures by July 2025, which could include tightening the Occupational Safety and Health Regulation, adding an additional ten-minute break every hour, providing sun protection and the right to work from home at temperatures above 26 degrees. At temperatures above 30 degrees, work hours should be reduced by half, with ten-minute breaks every half hour, and workplace fans should be provided. Van Aken also advocates for free sunscreen dispensers at stations and more water dispensers in cities.
The Union has dismissed this demand, citing existing regulations. "Germany already has a robust and proven work safety system, even at high temperatures," said Marc Biadacz, the Union faction's spokesman on labor and social policy. He claimed that the Left's initiative is "utopian and economically impractical." The CDU's Martin Sichert, the AfD faction's health policy spokesman, echoed this sentiment, condemning the state's intrusion into employers' matters.
The Greens have shown support for "adjusted working time regulations" and emphasized the need for tailor-made heat protection plans for each industry, acknowledging the differing strains between construction sites and air-conditioned laboratories.
Hot Work Days: Five Insights
The current regulations advise employers to take measures to protect workers from excessive heat, such as providing water and flex-time, but these measures are not legally binding in most sectors. As of June 2025, there are no comprehensive national laws in Germany mandating heat breaks or specific reductions in working hours for all workers due to high temperatures.
Sources: ntv.de, RND, Welt
- Health
- Climate Change
- The Left
- Jan van Aken
- Labor Law
Key Proposals in Die Linke's Heat Protection Paper
- Above 26°C: Reduce working hours by 25% and introduce mandatory 10-minute breaks every hour.
- Above 30°C: Cut worktime by half and introduce 10-minute breaks every half hour.
- Provide workers with water and fans.
- Additional measures: Free sunscreen dispensers at beaches and more water fountains in cities.
Stances of Major German Parties
| Party | Stance on Heat Break Regulations ||------------|--------------------------------------------|| Die Linke | Proposes strict, legally binding protections || Union | Not prioritized; focused on economy, less likely to support new regulations || AfD | Opposes new labor protections and climate regulations || Greens | Supportive of worker and climate protections, may endorse similar proposals |
In summary, the Left Party is pressing for legally binding heat protection regulations, while the current government is less likely to prioritize such measures. The AfD has shown resistance, and there is, as yet, no nationwide law in Germany mandating mandatory heat breaks for workers.
- The Left Party's proposal for strict, legally binding heat protection regulations includes reducing working hours by 25% and introducing mandatory 10-minute breaks every hour when temperatures reach 26 degrees Celsius.
- Jan van Aken, co-chair of the Left Party, emphasizes the need for these measures due to the heat stress and health complications faced by both office workers and those performing manual labor outdoors in harsh climates.
- The Left Party's paper also suggests the implementation of additional measures such as providing workers with water, fans, free sunscreen dispensers at beaches, and more water fountains in cities.
