French Unions push for stronger worker protections as heatwaves intensify

Saturday 11 July 2026 - 09:45

By: Sahili Aya

French Unions push for stronger worker protections as heatwaves intensify

French trade unions are urging the government to strengthen labour protections as repeated heatwaves expose millions of workers to increasingly hazardous conditions.

Following three successive heatwaves before the peak of the summer season, labour organisations argue that current measures are no longer sufficient to protect employees working in high temperatures. They are calling for legislative reforms that would better reflect the realities of a warming climate.

CGT demands legal temperature limits

The CGT has called for an urgent revision of French labour legislation, including the introduction of a maximum workplace temperature threshold beyond which work would have to be adapted or suspended.

Speaking on the issue, Sophie Binet, the union's general secretary, argued that existing labour rules were designed for past climate conditions and no longer provide adequate protection against increasingly frequent periods of extreme heat.

The union also points to the findings of a recent survey involving around 4,000 respondents. Nearly one quarter of participants reported receiving no specific protective measures from their employers during recent heatwaves.

Existing regulations face implementation challenges

The debate comes despite new workplace safety requirements introduced through a decree adopted in June 2025, which expanded employers' obligations during periods of extreme heat.

The regulations require companies to provide sufficient drinking water, adjust working hours where necessary and supply equipment designed to reduce heat exposure. The measures are intended to become progressively stricter according to the heat alert levels issued by Météo-France.

However, unions argue that these obligations are not being applied consistently across workplaces.

Employers urged to strengthen prevention

The CFE-CGC, which represents managerial and professional employees, has also reminded employers of their legal responsibilities during periods of high temperatures.

As climate change contributes to longer and more intense heatwaves across France, workplace safety during extreme weather is becoming an increasingly prominent issue in labour policy discussions.

Trade unions maintain that stronger enforcement mechanisms and clearer legal standards will be necessary to reduce health risks for workers in the years ahead.