Extreme heat can pose serious risks to workers’ health and safety. The Ministry of Labour and Social Security issued a new Circular on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, introducing emergency measures to protect private-sector workers from particularly high temperatures.
Key measures:
- Mandatory suspension of outdoor manual work from 13:00 to 17:00 in Attica, Eastern Central Greece, Thessaly and Eastern Peloponnese.
- The measure applies, among others, to construction sites, technical and construction works, shipbuilding and ship repair activities and two-wheeled vehicle deliveries.
- Employers are required to implement technical and organizational measures to protect workers from heat stress.
- For workers belonging to high-risk groups, remote work should be made available where feasible.
- Critical infrastructure activities are exempt from the work suspension, provided that the necessary protective measures are implemented.
