Poland sets temperature limits for work conditions amid heatwave concerns

Polish labour law currently requires employers to provide drinking water when indoor temperatures exceed 28 °C and outdoor temperatures exceed 25 °C. Minister of Family, Labour and Social Policy Agnieszka Dziemianowicz‑Bąk has drafted new amendments that would set absolute temperature caps – 35 °C for indoor workspaces and 32 °C for heavy outdoor tasks – with work to be halted if those limits are breached. Employers would have to supply cooling measures such as ventilation, shading or air‑conditioning, and, where technical solutions are impossible, introduce organisational changes like shorter shifts, longer breaks or relocation to cooler areas. Failure to comply could attract fines up to 60 000 zł. The draft, published at the end of 2024, targets implementation on 1 January 2027, giving firms time to upgrade infrastructure. The Ministry has also called for intensified inspections by the State Labour Inspectorate to ensure compliance ahead of the expected heatwave, emphasizing that workers must retain full pay even if hours are reduced. As one expert noted, “Wysokie temperatury sprawiają, że praca w upalne dni jest dużym wyzwaniem dla pracowników, a upał może mieć negatywne konsekwencje zdrowotne.”