Call: The worker must not pay the price of the heat wave, the employer must not profit from his exhaustion
The article discusses the growing concern over extreme heat affecting workers in Slovenia, emphasizing that employees should not bear the cost of this heatwave through their health, nor should employers profit from worker exhaustion. The piece highlights that temperatures have remained above 30°C during the day and above 20°C at night for several days, creating prolonged thermal stress that poses serious risks to workers' health, safety, and lives. It notes that high temperatures impact not just individual workers but also broader societal functions such as urban heat stress, public transportation, logistics, supply chains, machinery operation, cooling systems, ventilation, and work organization in outdoor or overheated environments. The article cites adjustments in railway operations as evidence that workers cannot be the sole system component expected to function at the same speed, duration, and intensity under extreme conditions as they would in normal weather. The call to action includes urging employers to update risk assessments, adapt working hours, monitor weather forecasts, record heat conditions at workplaces, shift heavy tasks to cooler parts of the day, reduce workload,
The labor unions in Slovenia have once again called on employers to adapt work processes during the current heatwave to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for employees. In a public appeal, the Confederation of Unions of 90 Slovenia emphasized that where work becomes unsafe due to high temperatures, it must be adjusted, slowed down, or even suspended. They stressed that workers should not pay the price of the heatwave with their health, nor should employers profit at the expense of employee exhaustion. The unions highlighted that they have already experienced ten consecutive days with daily temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius, followed by eight nights in a row where temperatures did not drop below 20 degrees Celsius. This situation is not just typical summer heat but represents a prolonged thermal burden that poses serious risks to the health, safety, and lives of workers.
The impact of the heat extends beyond immediate feelings of discomfort on the job site. High temperatures affect broader societal functions, increasing thermal stress in cities, burdening public transport, logistics, supply chains, machinery operation, cooling systems, ventilation systems, and the organization of work in activities carried out outdoors or in overheated spaces. As evidence, the unions cited the adjustment of railway traffic, noting that employees should not be the sole part of the system expected to function as quickly, long, and intensely as usual under extreme conditions. Certain tasks need to be performed, but the well-being and health of employees must still be considered.
Employers were urged to immediately update risk assessments and for relevant state authorities, particularly the Labor Inspectorate, to conduct targeted, unannounced, and effective inspections. These inspections should focus primarily on industries where workers are most exposed to heat and overloads, such as hospitality and tourism, retail, construction, utilities, road passenger and freight transport, industry, warehouses, healthcare, and care services. Employers are also expected to monitor weather forecasts and warnings, adjust work hours at workplaces, move the heaviest tasks to cooler parts of the day, reduce the intensity of work, adapt standards, and realistically plan deadlines. During periods of highest thermal stress, they should shorten or suspend work and provide frequent and longer breaks, shade, awnings, cool zones, air-conditioned rooms, and sufficient quantities of drinks, according to the unions.
Authorities are expected to take decisive, consistent action against employers who deliberately neglect measures to protect workers during the heatwave, using strong deterrent sanctions. The fine for endangering workers' health should exceed the savings an employer might achieve by violating regulations, the unions warned. They emphasized that prolonged heat is not merely a seasonal anomaly but a recurring threat that must be included in the organization of work, risk assessment, and daily management of work processes. Protecting the health of workers during heatwaves should not be left solely to the goodwill of employers but must be a planned, implemented, and monitored obligation.
The unions pointed out that high temperatures are no longer an exception during the summer season but a recurring threat that must be integrated into the organization of work, risk assessment, and daily management of work processes. They stressed that protecting the health of workers during heatwaves should not be left solely to the goodwill of employers but must be a planned, implemented, and monitored obligation. Employers cannot use weather as an excuse, as they can influence aspects such as the organization of work, pace of work, working hours, breaks, access to drinking water, shading, and cooling of work sites.
They emphasized that construction is one of the most exposed industries, but a construction site is not a place for arbitrary decisions. They also called for proper cooling of vehicles in road passenger transport, noting that a hot bus with an exhausted driver is a matter of public safety. Employers are urged to respect laws and reminded that a worker is not a machine or an expense but a human being. Therefore, no deadline is more important than life, and no profit is more important than health.
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The article reports on a call by the Confederation of Trade Unions 90 Slovenia for employers to adjust work processes during the heatwave to ensure safe and healthy working conditions. The unions argue that high temperatures pose serious risks to workers' health and safety, urging employers to modify work schedules, slow down operations, or suspend work if necessary. They emphasize that workers should not bear the cost of the heatwave with their health, while employers should not exploit this situation for profit. The unions highlight that the effects of extreme heat extend beyond workplaces, impacting broader societal functions such as transportation, logistics, and infrastructure. They also stress the need for updated risk assessments, increased oversight by state authorities, and specific measures like adjusting work hours, moving heavy tasks to cooler parts of the day, and providing adequate rest and cooling facilities.
Bias read (Left): The article frames the issue as a social responsibility of employers to protect workers' health during extreme heat, using language that emphasizes worker welfare over economic productivity. It highlights systemic risks to society and calls for regulatory action, which aligns with progressive labor-
The article discusses the growing concern over extreme heat affecting workers in Slovenia, emphasizing that employees should not bear the cost of this heatwave through their health, nor should employers profit from worker exhaustion. The piece highlights that temperatures have remained above 30°C during the day and above 20°C at night for several days, creating prolonged thermal stress that poses serious risks to workers' health, safety, and lives. It notes that high temperatures impact not just individual workers but also broader societal functions such as urban heat stress, public transportation, logistics, supply chains, machinery operation, cooling systems, ventilation, and work organization in outdoor or overheated environments. The article cites adjustments in railway operations as evidence that workers cannot be the sole system component expected to function at the same speed, duration, and intensity under extreme conditions as they would in normal weather. The call to action includes urging employers to update risk assessments, adapt working hours, monitor weather forecasts, record heat conditions at workplaces, shift heavy tasks to cooler parts of the day, reduce workload,
Bias read (Center): The article presents a balanced perspective by highlighting concerns raised by labor unions regarding the impact of extreme heat on workers and calling for measures to protect them. It does not exhibit clear ideological bias, instead focusing on the need for employer responsibility and regulatory监督.
In response to an extreme heatwave affecting Slovenia, the Confederation of Trade Unions 90 Slovenia has called on employers to adjust work processes and ensure a safe and healthy working environment for employees. The unions warn that where work is no longer safe, it must be limited or suspended. They emphasize that workers should not bear the cost of the heatwave with their health, nor should employers profit at the expense of employee exhaustion. With temperatures exceeding 30°C daily and failing to drop below 20°C overnight for several nights, the unions describe this as a prolonged thermal burden posing serious risks to workers' health, safety, and lives. They highlight that high temperatures impact broader societal functions, including urban heat stress, traffic, logistics, supply chains, machinery operation, cooling systems, ventilation, and work organization in outdoor or overheated environments. As evidence, they cite adjustments to railway operations, noting that workers should not be the sole system component expected to function at the same speed, duration, and intensity during extreme conditions as in normal weather.
Bias read (Left): The article frames the issue through the perspective of labor rights and worker protection, emphasizing the need for employer responsibility and regulatory oversight by state authorities such as the Labor Inspectorate. It uses strong advocacy language ('delavec ne sme plačevati cene', 'delodajalecpa
The Confederation of Trade Unions of Slovenia has once again called on employers to adapt work processes during the heatwave to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for employees. They emphasized that workers should not pay the price of the heatwave with their health, nor should employers profit at the expense of employee exhaustion. The unions highlighted that this is not just a typical summer heat but a prolonged thermal burden posing serious risks to workers' health, safety, and lives. They noted that high temperatures affect broader societal functions, including urban heat stress, public transportation, logistics, supply chains, machinery operation, cooling systems, ventilation, and work organization in outdoor or overheated environments. As evidence, they mentioned adjustments to railway traffic, stating that employees should not be the sole part of the system expected to function at the same speed, duration, and intensity under extreme conditions. Employers were urged to update risk assessments and notify relevant state authorities, particularly the Labor Inspectorate, to conduct targeted, unannounced, and effective inspections focused on sectors where workers are at
Bias read (Center): The article presents a call to action by trade unions regarding workplace safety during a heatwave, focusing on employer responsibilities and regulatory oversight. It does not exhibit overtly biased language, one-sided sourcing, or editorializing favoring any particular political stance. The content
The article discusses the prolonged heatwave affecting Slovenia, emphasizing its impact on workers' health and safety. It highlights that temperatures exceeding 30°C during the day and remaining above 20°C at night pose serious risks such as fatigue, dehydration, stress, reduced concentration, work errors, and accidents. The piece argues that employers must recognize this as a significant threat rather than a temporary weather condition, requiring proactive measures like adjusting work schedules, ensuring access to water, shading, cooling, and rest periods. The article stresses that worker health and life should take precedence over productivity, profit, and seasonal norms. It also calls for improved cooling systems in public transportation and construction sites, noting that workers are not machines but human beings whose well-being must be prioritized.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a balanced argument focusing on the need for workplace adjustments due to extreme heat, without overtly favoring any political side. It emphasizes health and safety concerns without directly criticizing specific policies or parties, maintaining a neutral stance on the issue.
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