Work Suspension During Heatwaves Is Standard... Other Countries Enact Laws First [Workers in Crisis] ④

Japan Mandates Work Stoppage During Heatwaves
France Introduces Punitive Damages for Employers
Experts Call for Urgent Government Intervention

As extreme heat becomes a daily reality, countries around the world are taking swift action. In many places, work is halted once temperatures exceed a certain threshold, and employers are required to provide rest areas, drinking water, and cooling facilities. In contrast, even as thermometers rise in South Korea, the country’s response remains sluggish.

A citizen in the southern Spanish city of Seville is cooling off by dipping their head into a fountain. Photo by Yonhap News

Japan began implementing its revised “Heatstroke Prevention Ordinance” last month. When the temperature reaches 31 degrees Celsius or higher, or the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) index is 28 or above, and workers are engaged in indoor or outdoor labor for more than four hours a day, employers must establish a reporting system to detect early warning signs in workers. If heatstroke is suspected, work must be stopped and appropriate measures, such as body temperature regulation, must be taken. Violations can result in up to six months in prison or a fine of up to 500,000 yen. Since the implementation of this system, changes have been observed at worksites. Japanese construction company Daito Trust developed its own cooling jackets using thermoelectric cooling technology and distributed them to about 1,500 employees earlier this month. These jackets are now being worn at construction sites in Tokyo, where temperatures recently exceeded 35 degrees Celsius.

France has also legislated employers’ obligations for heatwave response through Decree No. 2025-482, which took effect this month. The law is applied immediately when a heatwave alert of yellow or higher is issued under the four-level (green, yellow, orange, red) warning system. At that point, employers must adjust working hours, provide rest areas, supply drinking water, and operate cooling systems. Labor inspectors can issue improvement orders within eight days of an on-site inspection, and if harm occurs, employers may face punitive damages claims.

In the United States, five states?California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, and Minnesota?currently have state-level heat protection regulations in place. California requires employers to guarantee outdoor workers at least a 10-minute break every two hours when temperatures exceed 32.2 degrees Celsius, and Oregon extends this protection to indoor workers as well. Starting in September, Maryland will mandate that employers provide cold water, secure rest areas, guarantee a heat acclimatization period of up to 14 days, and offer additional breaks during high temperatures for both indoor and outdoor workers when temperatures reach 26.7 degrees Celsius or higher. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) under the Department of Labor is working on a regulation that would require a 15-minute break every two hours when temperatures exceed 26.7 degrees Celsius. An informal hearing involving labor unions and occupational safety experts was held last month.

Germany specifies appropriate indoor workplace temperatures. When the temperature exceeds 26 degrees Celsius, sun shading, beverage provision, and relaxed dress codes are recommended. If it rises above 30 degrees Celsius, mandatory responses such as extended breaks and adjusted working hours are required. Temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius are classified as unsuitable for work. In Greece, when a heatwave is forecast, outdoor workers and delivery personnel are required to take mandatory breaks from noon to 5 p.m.

Experts stress the urgent need for active government intervention, given that the climate crisis has become an everyday issue. Kim Yousun, chair of the Korea Labor and Society Institute, stated, “Heatwaves like those we are experiencing now are directly linked to workers’ lives, so it cannot be left solely to the discretion of workplaces.” She added, “For small businesses, administrative and financial support from the state is also necessary.”

Kim Sunghee, professor at Korea University Graduate School of Labor Studies, said, “It is necessary to combine various flexible production operation systems, such as concentrated summer vacation, seasonal flexible working hours, and short-term workforce utilization.” She continued, “Since it is difficult to predict when and how severe the heat will be, a system that allows for flexible scheduling, production, and workforce management must be established.”