Their standing request which remains pending, in the midst of prolonged heat repeat GSEE, the Secretariat of Health and Safety at Work and the Information Center for Workers & Unemployed of the Confederation (KE.PEEA/GSEE) to the Ministry of Labor, for the introduction of the current law on Health and Safety of workers tin- well regulations on the obligations of employers and primarily on restrictions on the prevention of strain on employees and regulation of their working conditions in cases of exposure to extreme weather conditions (heat, cold, etc. ).
In fact, labor unions demand that these restrictions be accompanied by strict penalties and the strengthening of timely inspections by the Labor Inspectorate.
However, as pointed out by GSEE, on the contrary we have a permanent weakening of the mandatory nature of the measures, as the non-authorized regulation with a (non-binding) Circular on the obligations of the belonging to the protection of the health and safety of workers from thermal stress is maintained, while at the same time maintaining a high level of price limits of indicators above which a mandatory stoppage of operations is imposed.
GSEE: Beware of heat and working hours
Regarding the working hours of the workers, GSEE calls on the trade unions to be attentive to the complaints of the workers who are called to work in jobs that have to stop amid the heat stressing that:
• following the strong reaction of the Confederation, which is also supported by other bodies, the duration of the work stoppage between 12.00 and 17.00 is restored (in the previous Circular of the Ministry of Labor it was reduced by one hour)
• require special attention for illegal or abusive practices, the possibility given by the Circular to employers not to register the change of working hours in advance in TOOLS PES, under the cover of the facility regarding time of arrival or departure of employees from work. due to high temperature
• workers belonging to groups with a high risk to their health from high temperatures, such as heart patients, lung patients, suffering from chronic diseases (for example, diabetes mellitus, failure of kidney, blood pressure disorders coke), those taking certain medications (for example. insulin, antidiabetic, diuretic, anticholesterol coke), women during pregnancy, as well as people who work in a hot environment .
GSEE also pointed out that on the website of the National Meteorological Service, in addition to information on the weather forecast and the course of the heat wave throughout the country, in individual regions and cities. http://www.emy.gr/emy/el/forecast/deltia_kairou/geniki_prognosi Also posted are forecast maps with WBGT/THYMVAS index (bioclimatic heat stress index) value ranges for outdoor areas across the country. http://www.emy.gr/emy/el/forecast/deikths_wbgt .
The main points of the Ministry of Labor Circular
The following are the main points of reference no. 40220/15.7.2024 of the Circular, cited by GSEE in the continuation of the detailed update from 6.6.2024, cited here https://gsee.gr/deltia-typou/antitimetopisi-tis-thermikis-kataponisis-ton-ergazomenon /
“Emergency measures to deal with heat stress among private sector workers
• Mandatory work stoppage of outdoor activities
For Tuesday 16/07/2024
According to the Emergency Weather Deterioration Bulletin (EDEK) of the National Meteorological Service (EMY) updated from 15/07/2024, especially high temperatures are expected to prevail in Macedonia, Thrace, Epirus, western and eastern Central Greece, Thessaly and west. and eastern Peloponnese.
For the employees of the companies located in the above areas, it has become mandatory to stop their work during the period 12:00-17:00, in the manual work done outside. Examples include technical work and construction projects, construction sites, distribution and transportation of products and goods by two-wheeled vehicles, roller skates, roller skates, etc. (delivery), etc., if the temperature is equal to or higher than 40 ° C.
For Wednesday 17/07/2024 to Friday 19/07/2024
For all workers in businesses, for manual work, performed outdoors, when the temperature is equal to or higher than 40 ° C, it becomes mandatory to stop their work during the period 12:00-17:00: 00. Examples include working on technical and construction projects, construction sites, distribution and transportation of products and goods by two-wheeled roller skates, scooters, etc. (delivery) , and so on.
It is noted that the above cases of compulsory work stoppage include all employees regardless of their type of work, including digital platforms in article 68 of Law 4808/2021.
Especially for work in a shipbuilding repair zone, the obligation of the above paragraph applies to a temperature set at a value greater than 38 °C.
As long as the measure of suspension of distribution operations is applied for delivery companies, the option of ordering by receiving the user directly from the store (takeaway) can be kept active, as well the last possibility to implement the distribution of private and public vehicles except two-wheelers and other means in the previous paragraph, as defined in article 2 of Law 2696/1999, under more specific terms or condition, as long as there is air conditioning.
The suspension of operations does not apply to economic activities regarding important and socially critical infrastructures in the health sector, transportation and public utilities (indicating, health facilities, water supply, electricity, air transportation , management, sea, land and rail transport), under the condition of taking other technical and organizational measures in circular No. 34666/03.06.2024 “Prevention of thermal stress of workers” (ADA: ΡΗ1Ν46ΝΛΡΗ-ΟΟ6), including the organization of working hours.
In case of non-compliance with the obligations herein, the Labor Inspectorate will impose, according to articles 23 and 24 of Law 3996/2011 (A’ 170), a fine of two thousand euros per employee of the company.
• Provision of remote work with the telework system
For employees who have a dependent labor relationship in the private sector belonging to high-risk groups (table in Appendix 2 of circular no. 34666/03.06.2024) and especially in cases of their exposure to aggravated conditions in areas that, according to the updated Emergency Deterioration of Weather Bulletin (EDEK) of the National Meteorological Service (EMY) from 15/07/2024, especially high temperatures are expected to prevail, caution should be taken in those business to allow them to work remotely if the nature of their work allows.
• Unique measures for the organization of working time
To deal with heat stress in areas where, according to the Emergency Weather Deterioration Bulletin (EDEK) of the National Meteorological Service (EMS), updated from 15/07/2024, especially high temperatures are expected to prevail, and to facilitate workers during any change in their arrival and departure time from work, employers may not register in advance in PS TOOL each change in the organization of working hours.
The unions, the local Labor Centers and the GSEE power Federations are on alert during the hot days for workers’ complaints.