Amid the heat wave, the government of France is looking to other European countries, such as Greece to address the daily challenges workers face in extreme temperatures.
On the French television program “RTL Matin,” French Minister of Labor, Jean-Pierre Farandou argued that the government and authorities should follow the examples of European countries that are accustomed to warmer temperatures.
For the minister, the solution begins with adjusting work practices to alert levels. He points out that “a plan (…) to address this intense heat” is already in effect, through a decree issued last year that “requires companies to adjust working conditions according to alert levels: yellow, orange, red.”
France and workers in the heatwave
The measure primarily concerns workers exposed to outdoor conditions, “especially in the construction sector.” Jean-Pierre Farandou also emphasizes employers’ responsibility and the inspections carried out by the state. “I have reinforced this plan with inspections,” he adds.
In his view, adaptation concerns not only work but, more broadly, the organization of society.
Jean-Pierre Farandou states that he wishes to launch this process in collaboration with the social partners. He announces a discussion aimed at drawing lessons from the current situation and “preparing (…) for future heat waves”.
Among the proposals mentioned are: work schedules, equipment, and broader changes in collective habits. “We can work on this—on schedules and equipment,” he explains.
The minister even extends the discussion to other areas: “Do all exams in this country have to be held in June? Do the final matches have to be held in June?”
“Let’s look at Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Greece”
The French minister explained that France can learn from other countries.
He specifically stated: “I can also tell you that on Friday I will have a discussion with the Spanish minister, as I, too, am beginning to make comparisons. I will have an exchange of views with her so she can explain to me how Spain is organized. This will contribute to this effort of reflection and perspective.”
“We’re in Europe. We probably won’t compare ourselves to Asia or the United States—though who knows—but in any case, in Europe we have Southern Europe: Portugal, Spain, Italy, and Greece.”
“Let’s see how these countries are organized. We see that our temperatures are beginning to align with the climate of those countries, so we just need to look at how they do it. In their case, it’s more a matter of culture. We see that we have a cultural issue; we know full well that these countries are culturally accustomed to living in the heat. “We need to draw inspiration from their methods and certainly apply them in France,” he explained.
On the same show, he was even asked whether a more casual dress code should be adopted in the workplace during periods of extreme heat, with the minister explaining, among other things, that employees could wear shorts as long as they are “well-tailored.”
