As temperatures approach 40°C, workers in Serbia face challenging conditions while official heat safety measures remain largely advisory rather than mandatory.

As a heatwave pushes temperatures near 40°C, many workers continue to operate in extreme conditions despite public health recommendations. While the City Institute for Public Health advises against direct sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., many employees must work during these hours. Current regulations provide specific rules for indoor temperatures, but there are no binding legal requirements for outdoor work, leaving employers to rely on non-binding guidelines from the Ministry of Labor.

Regulatory gaps in workplace safety

Lawyer Tanja Marković explains that while a rulebook exists for indoor workplace safety, no such mandate covers outdoor work. Consequently, government appeals for employers to avoid heavy physical labor when temperatures exceed 36°C are not legally binding. The Ministry of Construction has also issued appeals for safety measures, but these remain recommendations rather than enforceable requirements.

Responsibility and worker protection

Sociologist Vladimir Simović criticizes the current approach, noting that it places equal responsibility on employers and workers, which he describes as cynical given that employers control work processes. While the Law on Occupational Health and Safety allows workers to refuse tasks that threaten their health, this places the burden of self-regulation on the employee. Experts suggest that the government should instead mandate specific changes, such as split-shift work or temporary work stoppages during heatwaves.