The Catalan government's Ministry of Business and Labour has launched a new protocol in Barcelona to prevent and respond to the effects of heat in the workplace. This move addresses the growing number of high-temperature episodes linked to climate change.
Miquel Sàmper, the Minister of Business and Labour, explained the protocol on Monday, 27 April 2026. The event included Núria Gilgado, Director General of Labour Relations, Self-Employment, Safety and Health at Work, and representatives from various organisations that helped create and sign the document. Sàmper described the protocol as a response to a phenomenon that "has come to stay," praising the entities for their agreement on a clear objective that benefits people.
Beyond the Ministry of Labour, the Ministries of Health and the Presidency also signed the agreement. Other signatories include the Federation of Municipalities of Catalonia, the Catalan Association of Municipalities, the four provincial councils of Barcelona, Lleida, Tarragona, and Girona, along with trade unions CC.OO. and UGT of Catalonia, and business organisations Foment del Treball and Pimec.
A Proactive Approach to Workplace Safety
The protocol is built on 10 key points, offering a preventive and full approach, according to Gilgado. She stated that heat should be seen as a structural occupational risk, requiring systematic, rather than improvised, management. The measures prioritise reducing heat exposure "at source," through adjusting schedules, implementing rotations, and using breathable, adapted clothing. Sàmper gave an example: "I cannot imagine a gardener working at 1pm at 35 degrees."
Other critical aspects of the protocol include training for workers and companies, activating health services, ensuring the presence of first aid-trained personnel, adapting measures to specific activities and territories, and establishing clear roles and responsibilities. A follow-up commission will also be created to monitor these actions and the protocol, aiming to "detect difficulties in the text's implementation," Gilgado explained. She added that it is "a complete, operational, adaptable text that responds to the full diversity of our productive fabric."
Rising Heat-Related Infractions
Figures from the Catalan Labour Inspectorate's 2025 campaign on heat-related risks were also shared. The inspectorate carried out 662 actions, a 38.8% increase from the previous year. During the same period, 124 infractions were detected, marking a 14.8% rise. Additionally, 387 requests were made to companies, up by 40.7%, and 20,400 letters were sent to companies to inform them about the regulations.
This year's campaign started in March and will proceed in two phases. The first phase will check if 123 companies, primarily in the agriculture and construction sectors, have heat protocols in place. The second phase will involve actions based on complaints received.
