Bars and restaurants in Spain may be forced to limit or suspend work on terraces during episodes of extreme heat. The new labor rules in the hospitality sector provide for protection measures for workers and fines that can reach 50 thousand euros in case of serious non-compliance.
According to the Spanish newspaper, the measure comes as Spain faces the first heat wave of the summer, with temperatures above normal in several regions. The topic is especially sensitive for the hotel industry, a sector that relies heavily on terraces during the warmer months.
New rules for the hotel industry
The changes are the result of a modification to the state hotel labor agreement, signed by the unions FeSMC-UGT and CCOO Servicios, together with the employers’ associations Hostelería de España and CEHAT.
The objective is to adapt working conditions to the new climate reality, marked by more frequent episodes of extreme heat, storms, floods and other severe meteorological phenomena.
In practice, companies in the sector now have to include specific measures in their occupational risk prevention plans to protect workers in these scenarios.
Terraces may be affected
In the case of terraces, establishments will have to guarantee adequate conditions so that employees can work safely. This may include refrigeration systems, shaded areas, breaks, rearranging schedules or other protective solutions.
When authorities issue orange or red alerts for extreme heat, companies may be forced to reduce working hours or temporarily suspend activity in certain outdoor spaces.
The rule does not mean that all terraces automatically close during a heat wave. However, it forces business owners to assess the risk and adopt concrete measures to avoid exposing workers to dangerous temperatures.
Fines can be heavy
Failure to comply with new obligations could have significant financial consequences. According to the Spanish press, a businessman who forces employees to work on a terrace during a red alert, without adequate protection, could face fines of up to 50 thousand euros.
At stake is the protection of occupational health. Extreme heat can cause dehydration, exhaustion, dizziness, heat stroke and other serious problems, especially in workers exposed for several hours at a time.
The Spanish authorities therefore want to reinforce prevention before extreme episodes result in workplace accidents or health risk situations.
What changes for workers and customers
For workers, the new rules may mean more breaks, adapted schedules, limiting outdoor work or temporarily suspending activity during the hottest hours.
For customers, there may be terraces closed at certain times, fewer tables available or changes to opening hours during weather warning periods.
The measure could have an economic impact on bars, cafes and restaurants, but the entities involved argue that worker safety must prevail when extreme temperatures are involved.
An increasingly frequent reality
Heat waves have become more intense and frequent in southern Europe, forcing several sectors to review outdoor working rules. The hotel industry is one of the most exposed, especially in tourist cities and areas with heavy traffic in the summer.
In Spain, the new obligation places climate adaptation at the center of labor relations. The protection of workers no longer depends solely on the common sense of business owners and becomes part of formal prevention plans.
For now, the measure applies to the hotel sector in Spain. Still, the debate could gain momentum in other European countries, including Portugal, where terraces are also an important part of the activity of cafes, bars and restaurants during the summer.
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