CGT Urges Climate Leave and Work Time Reforms to Protect Workers Amid Extreme Heatwaves in France

The CGT union has called for urgent public policy reforms to address the severe health risks that extreme heatwaves pose to workers across France. On July 15, 2026, during a meeting in Nantes, union representatives from various sectors, including major companies like Airbus and Naval Group, highlighted alarming conditions where temperatures in workplaces have reached beyond 45°C.

The union criticized employers for neglecting safety mandates outlined in the May 27, 2025 decree, which requires protections for workers during heat waves. Reports of multiple heat-related illnesses and two fatalities among workers underscore the severity of the issue. The CGT emphasized that current measures, such as insufficient ventilation and mandates for workers to wear long sleeves, exacerbate the risks rather than mitigate them.

To combat these challenges, the CGT is demanding the introduction of climate leave, a form of paid leave allowing workers to stay off work during extreme heat, akin to technical unemployment. The union also calls for a comprehensive reorganization of work hours to reduce exposure during peak heat, arguing that political inaction over the past 40 years has worsened worker vulnerabilities.

These demands aim to prioritize worker health and safety amid the growing impacts of climate change. The union’s stance stresses that existing regulations are not adequately enforced and that employers must take immediate action. The proposal of climate leave marks a significant shift in labor policy, addressing the new realities posed by increasingly frequent and intense heatwaves in France.