As the mercury rises again from tomorrow Tuesday to Friday July 16, according to the emergency weather report, the Ministry of Labor issued a circular with emergency measures to protect private sector workers.
In particular the circular states:
Mandatory work stoppage
a) For Tuesday 16/07/2024
For employees of businesses located mainly in Macedonia, Thrace, Epirus, west and east central Greece, Thessaly and west and east Peloponnese, where, according to the Emergency Weather Deterioration Bulletin (EDEK), it is expected that the temperature of the -high prevailing, it is mandatory to stop work during the period 12:00-17:00, in manual work done outside. Indicatively, works on technical and construction projects, construction sites, distribution and transportation of products and things by two-wheel vehicle (delivery), etc., are mentioned, when the temperature is equal to or higher than 40 ° C.
b) For Wednesday 17/07/2024 to Friday 19/07/2024
For all employees in a business, for manual work, carried out outside, when the temperature is equal to or higher than 40 ° C, it is mandatory to stop their work during the period 12:00-17:00. Indicatively, works on technical and construction projects, construction sites, distribution and transportation of products and objects by means of two-wheeled vehicles, skates, roller blades, etc. are mentioned. (delivery) etc.
c) It is particularly indicated for work in a shipbuilding repair zone the obligation of the above provisions applies to a temperature set at a value above 38°C.
d) As long as the measurement of the suspension of the distribution operations is applied, it is possible to keep the option of ordering by the user directly from the store (take away) active, as well as the possibility of distribution with vehicles of private use, other than the two wheels and other means of the previous paragraph, as defined in Article 2 of Law 2696/1999, under more specific terms or conditions, as long as they have air conditioning.
e) The suspension of operations does not apply to economic activities related to important socially vital infrastructures in the health, transport and public utility sectors (sanitation units, water supply, electricity, air transport, handling, transport by sea, land and rail), provided that other technical and organizational measures No. 34666/03/06/2024 “Preventing thermal stress of workers”, including the organization of working time.
f) In the event that the mandatory stoppage measure is not complied with, the Labor Inspectorate imposes a monetary fine of 2,000 euros per each employee of the company.
Providing remote work with the telework system
For employees who have a dependent labor relationship in the private sector of the economy belonging to high-risk groupsespecially in cases where they are exposed to aggravating conditions in those areas, where it is expected, according to the Emergency Weather Deterioration Bulletin (EDEK) from 15/07/2024, that high temperatures will prevail in the areas, the possibility of working remotely. with the telecommunications system, as far as possible due to the nature of their work.
Extraordinary measures to organize working time
For the convenience of employees during any change in their time of arrival and departure from work, employers may not register all changes in advance in the “ERGANI” Information System. organization of working time.