The Ministry of Labour and Social Security has announced emergency measures to protect private sector workers from heat stress on Monday, July 7, 2025, as temperatures are expected to reach up to 40°C in most parts of the country. These guidelines include a work stoppage for outdoor activities, including delivery services. The announcement was made public on Sunday (June 6, 2025), stating that all outdoor work will be suspended from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM on Monday. Specifically, the following rules apply:
A. Measures Against Heat Stress for Private Sector Workers
Employers must implement technical and organizational protective measures, based on the indicative (non-restrictive) list provided in Circular No. 34666/03.06.2024 titled ‘Prevention of Heat Stress Among Workers’ (ΑΔΑ: ΡΓ1Ν46ΝΛΔΓ-ΩΟ6).
B. Mandatory Work Stoppage for Outdoor Activities
For businesses located in areas where extreme temperatures and high discomfort levels (WBGT) are forecasted—specifically Central Macedonia, Ionian Islands, Western Greece, Thessaly, Messinia, Samos, and the eastern part of Rhodes—a mandatory suspension of manual labor outdoors is enforced from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM on Monday, July 7, 2025. This includes construction sites, industrial zones, and especially delivery services using two-wheeled vehicles, scooters, or skateboards. All employees, regardless of their employment type—including those working via digital platforms under Article 68 of Law 4808/2021—are included in this measure.
In cases where delivery services are suspended, businesses may still offer customer pickup (takeaway) options. Deliveries can also be made using private or public vehicles equipped with air conditioning, excluding all types of motorcycles and similar vehicles as defined by the Road Traffic Code.
This suspension does not apply to essential infrastructure sectors such as healthcare, transportation, and public utilities (e.g., medical facilities, water supply, electricity, air transport, ground handling, maritime, land, and rail transport), provided that other protective measures outlined in the aforementioned circular are followed, including adjustments to working hours.
Failure to comply with these regulations will result in a fine of €2,000 per employee by the Labour Inspection, according to Articles 23 and 24 of Law 3996/2011 (Government Gazette A’ 170).
C. Remote Work for High-Risk Employees
Companies must offer remote work options to employees identified as being at high risk (as listed in Appendix 2 of Circular No. 34666/03.06.2024), particularly those exposed to harsh conditions in the affected regions, provided it is feasible given the nature of their job.
D. Emergency Measures for Working Hours Organization
To mitigate heat stress and facilitate worker mobility, employers in the affected areas may refrain from pre-registering any temporary changes in working hours in the “ERGANI” information system.