French workers lack universal heatwave pay, face health strain amid summer heat

France does not have a statutory "heatwave premium" for employees in 2026. Compensation for workers exposed to extreme temperatures depends on local arrangements such as collective agreements, professional conventions, company-level accords, or unilateral employer initiatives. The labour code classifies work in environments of 30 °C or higher (or below 5 °C) for at least 900 hours a year as a recognised hardship factor. Affected employees—particularly those in construction, agriculture, waste collection and logistics—must have a contract of at least four weeks and be under the general social security scheme. Employers must report these risk factors via the DSN, which feeds the Compte professionnel de prévention (C2P). Points accrued on the C2P can be used for training, part‑time work without salary loss, or early retirement.

A separate report highlights the human toll of repeated heatwaves. On 29 July 2026, temperatures reached 40 °C in Bordeaux and Tarbes, prompting workers to describe “brain in mush” fatigue, dehydration, anxiety and disrupted sleep. Both office staff and outdoor labourers reported severe exhaustion, with some juggling childcare while teleworking from overheated homes. The construction sector benefits from a decree dated 28 June 2024 that treats heatwaves as official weather emergencies, allowing work stoppages when conditions become unsafe.

Together, these developments illustrate the legal gaps and health challenges French workers face during an increasingly hot summer.