The Unite trade union is calling for new laws to protect workers from the effects of extreme weather.
Among the measures being sought is a legal obligation on employers to implement graduated alert-based responses, with non-essential outdoor work ceasing during orange/amber alerts and all non-essential work ceasing during red alerts.
Unite is also seeking paid “climate leave”, if extreme weather makes it impossible to travel to work, maximum temperatures at which work must cease, and legal recognition of temperature-related illnesses as occupational diseases as recommended by the International Labour Organisation.
“Workers are literally in the eye of the…