Extreme heat at work: France will study Spanish measures

A meeting with the Spanish Minister of Labor, Yolanda Díaz, as well as several company visits, are on the provisional agenda for the trip announced by the French Ministry of Labor. All eight social partners, representing both unions and employers, are expected to be represented. The General Secretary of the General Confederation of Labor (CGT), Sophie Binet, has confirmed her participation.

The trip comes after a summer marked by several episodes of extreme heat in France. At the end of June, Jean-Pierre Farandou announced his intention to propose a "study trip" to social partners in order to understand "how Spanish society has adapted" to the intense heat and to be able to "potentially draw inspiration from it".

Adjusted schedules and regulated temperatures in Spain

Among the practices that the delegation must examine is the continuous working day. In some Spanish regions, companies and administrations shift their hours between June and September, with a workday that can run from 8 a.m. to 15 p.m.

Spanish regulations also stipulate a temperature between 17 and 27°C for enclosed spaces to which they apply, particularly for sedentary work such as offices. For light work, this range is set between 14 and 25°C.

These limits, however, do not constitute a general rule applicable to all work situations. Temporary or mobile worksites are excluded from the main scope of the text setting these temperatures, but remain subject to Spanish obligations regarding protection against extreme weather events.

A mandatory adaptation during orange or red alerts

Since 2023, Spanish employers have been required to take appropriate measures to protect employees working outdoors or in spaces that cannot be enclosed. The assessment must take into account the nature of the tasks, exposure to weather conditions, and the potential vulnerability of the workers.

When the Spanish National Meteorological Agency or the relevant regional service issues an orange or red alert and the usual preventative measures are no longer sufficient, the company must adapt working conditions. This obligation may lead to reducing or modifying working hours, or even prohibiting certain tasks during periods of highest risk.

Leave in case of inability to return to work

Following the deadly floods in the Valencia region in 2024, Spain also introduced paid leave of up to four days when an employee cannot access their workplace or use the necessary routes to get there.

This right applies in particular when the authorities recommend, restrict, or prohibit travel, or when there is a serious and imminent risk related to a disaster or weather event. If the circumstances persist beyond four days, the leave may be extended, subject to any other measures the company may implement.

Strengthened measures in France since 2025

France already has a strengthened regulatory framework since July 1, 2025. Employers must assess the risks associated with episodes of intense heat, both indoors and outdoors, and plan appropriate prevention measures.

These may relate to the organization and working hours, the layout of workstations, rest periods, the limitation of exposure to solar radiation, the provision of fresh drinking water, protective equipment, and the information provided to employees.

In the construction and public works sector, these risks must also be taken into account in prevention plans, general coordination plans, and specific health and safety plans. Self-employed workers and employers directly operating on a construction site are also affected.

The trip to Spain is now intended to foster discussions between the Government and social partners. At this stage, however, no new French measures or regulatory changes have been announced following this mission.