The labour and social security ministry has issued a circular ordering emergency measures to address the issue of heat stress among private sector employees on Monday, when an extended heatwave is expected to send temperatures soaring.
This requires employers to adopt protective measures outlined but not limited to a stop to all outdoor manual labour from noon until 17:00 in areas expected to experience particularly high levels of heat stressed based on the WBGT indicator, including delivery work on two-wheeled vehicles, unless this can be done in an air-conditioned vehicle. The ban does not apply to crucial and essential services in health, transport and public utilities, such as healthcare units, water supply, electricity, air transport, handling, maritime, land and rail transport provided measures are taken to protect staff from heat stress.
Staff in high-risk groups must be given the option to work remotely, if the nature of their work allows while employers are not required to notify ERGANI in advance of changes in the organisation of working time.