Spanish workers may be entitled to up to four paid days off when severe weather prevents them from reaching the workplace or makes travel to work impossible under an official restriction, or when working would expose them to a serious and imminent risk. The basic legal basis is Real Decreto-ley 4/2023, de 11 de mayo, which amended Article 37.3.g of the Workers’ Statute. The provision does not create a general heatwave holiday: eligibility depends on the circumstances and statutory conditions, not simply on hot weather.
The Spanish Meteorological Agency (AEMET) has forecast temperatures of 36 to 42 degrees Celsius in many inland regions, along with unusually warm nights. These are forecast values, not recorded observations. AEMET publishes forecasts and warnings by territory and updates adverse-weather information through Meteoalerta, which covers conditions up to 72 hours ahead. The figures describe potential exposure, while an individual worker’s eligibility depends on access and official restrictions, as well as whether safe work is possible.
When Paid Leave Applies
Article 37.3.g provides for paid leave of “up to four days” when a competent authority’s recommendation or limitation, as well as a prohibition, prevents access to the workplace, or when it is impossible to travel along the routes needed to get there. It also covers situations involving a serious and imminent risk arising from adverse weather. If the circumstances continue beyond four days, the employer may adopt the organizational measures that apply under the law, including temporary suspension or reduction of work where appropriate.
An orange or red AEMET warning does not, by itself, automatically trigger paid leave. A warning is relevant evidence when assessing weather-related risk, but it does not establish that every workplace is inaccessible or unsafe. The legal test depends on the specific conditions: for example, whether an official restriction prevents access or travel, or whether a serious and imminent danger makes work unsafe despite preventive measures.
Employer Responsibilities During Heat Alerts
Employers must assess and control heat exposure rather than wait for an alert to decide whether action is needed. Spain’s workplace-safety structure includes Real Decreto 486/1997, as amended by the 2023 reform, and requires employers to consider the nature of the work and the workplace conditions, including the weather. Preventive measures may include changing working hours or reorganizing tasks. Where necessary, employers can suspend outdoor activity. These duties matter especially for physically demanding and outdoor work, where heat stress can develop rapidly.
If high temperatures make work unsafe, employers must take effective preventive and organizational measures. Depending on the circumstances, they may reduce or reschedule hours, change shifts, or modify tasks. They may also provide access to water and shaded rest areas, or suspend activity. These measures are especially relevant in construction, agriculture, delivery, street cleaning and infrastructure maintenance, where exposure to sun can coincide with physical exertion. The Ministry of Labour has intensified oversight this summer, sending more than 113,000 reminders to companies in high-risk sectors about their heat-related obligations.
What If Extreme Heat Persists?
The four-day provision applies while the qualifying circumstances continue, but it does not mean paid leave automatically extends beyond that period. If dangerous conditions persist, the employer may adopt other organizational measures, including temporary work suspension or a reduction in working hours under the applicable rules. Remote work may be an option where the job can be done remotely and the necessary arrangements are in place.
Workers also have protections under Spain’s Law on the Prevention of Occupational Risks when there is a serious and imminent danger to life or health. Employers must not leave staff exposed to such a risk without taking appropriate action, which may involve changing schedules or reorganizing work. They may also need to stop the activity. Employees should promptly notify their employer of access problems or unsafe conditions and retain relevant evidence, including official restrictions and transport closures, as well as workplace instructions or AEMET warnings.
As Spain faces severe weather, practical safety measures matter both at work and in daily life. They include protection from heat, along with protective eyewear for rare solar events such as those recently highlighted in the article on affordable certified eclipse glasses.
