Work could soon be suspended on days of ‘extreme heat’
Work could soon be suspended on days of ‘extreme heat’
2025-11-04
Facing the climate crisis, the Meteorological Act is in the process of being amended to included extreme heat as a form of hazardous weather. After the relevant legislative hearing on Monday, the draft bill could soon be unveiled. If passed, days with temperatures over 35 degrees could allow for work and class suspensions. Let’s find out more.
Summer and fall are getting hotter. Now, a legislative committee has approved an amendment to designate extreme heat as a form of hazardous weather, which would allow work suspensions. Labor groups say they also want “extreme cold” to be included.
Hsu Chih-chieh
Lawmaker (DPP)
There must be a standard for what constitutes as extreme heat or extreme cold. It’s not that a day off is guaranteed when it gets hot or cold.
Jonathan Lin
Lawmaker (KMT)
Our party caucus has not begun discussing this yet. What we may think of as “cold” is different from extremely low temperatures that could threaten our lives and safety, so I believe this warrants more discussion.
According to statistics, the number of extremely hot days with temperatures over 35 degrees stands at more than 70 in Taipei alone. Whereas countrywide, the number in 2024 is twice as many as in 2023. Heat-related injuries also continue to rise.
Cho Jung-tai
Premier
Currently, the Ministry of Labor has a set of guidance on working under high temperatures, which aims to protect workers’ safety. However, we still need to consider medically proved effects of high temperatures on the human body, as well as meteorological studies on climate adaptation.
So, what is the public’s view on the issue?
Member of public
Weighs in on “extreme weather leave”
It doesn’t make a difference for office workers, but of course office workers are happy to have as many days off as possible.
Member of public
Weighs in on “extreme weather leave”
I don’t think “cold holidays” are necessary, but “heat holidays” certainly are. But in terms of extreme heat, it all boils down to how humankind can be more environmentally conscious.
The Central Weather Administrator Lu Kuo-chen stated that even if the amendment passes, extreme heat “holidays” still wouldn’t necessarily result in full-day work and class suspensions. Instead, companies and schools would have the discretion to reschedule in case of extreme heat. Currently, Taiwan’s heat warnings are in a graded system, with yellow for temperatures over 36 degrees, orange over 37 degrees and red over 38, and updated every three hours. After the amendment passes, the warning system will be more refined and require more timely responses from authorities.
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#weather #climatecrisis #extremeheat #labor #workersrights
氣象法修正! 擬列入高溫假 勞團:也該有低溫假
2025-11-04
氣候變遷下極端高溫頻傳，"氣象法"修正草案，將「高溫」納入災害性天氣，修正草案預計11月正式預告，未來將把「高溫」納入災害性天氣類別，未來可依氣象署發布的「高溫特報」配套勞工高溫假或調整出勤規範。不過勞團認為，寒流衝擊不亞於熱浪，建議政府應同步研議「低溫假」制度，保障勞工。
近年來夏天到秋天，高溫天數越來越多，如今立院決議，將「高溫」納入災害性天氣，讓勞工有機會放高溫假或調整出勤。不過，勞團建議政府應同步研議「低溫假」制度。
[[立委(民) 許智傑]]
“高溫跟低溫假應該要有個標準，不是說高溫或低溫就放假。”
[[立委(國) 林沛祥]]
“這個案子我覺得我們在黨團還沒有開始討論。我們的低溫跟實質上，會導致人類的生命安全受到危險的低溫，是不是一樣的狀況，我覺得我們還是要好好討論一下。”
根據統計，台北市每年超過35度的天數高達70多天， 2024年全台高溫日數是2023年近兩倍。熱傷害人數更是連年攀升。
[[行政院長 卓榮泰]]
"目前勞動部已經有高溫工作的注意事項的指引，那就是在保障勞工的安全。包括醫學上對人類人體的影響，包括氣象學對氣候的適應等等，都要再做進一步的討論"
面對極端氣候越來越常見，「高溫、低溫假」是否該入法，也成了民眾關心話題。
[[民眾]]
“不是上班族的話是沒有差，那上班族的話就是假越多越好。”
[[民眾]]
“所以我覺得低溫假比較不是這麼的需要，高溫假的確需要，可是我覺得高溫還是會找到源頭，源頭就是我們人類對於環保的意識要加強。”
氣象署長呂國臣表示，未來若修法通過，高溫假不一定是全天停班課，可能依高溫時段分段調整，讓戶外勞工和學校調整作息。目前高溫警示分為黃燈（36度）、橙燈（37度）和紅燈（38度），每3小時更新一次，修法後將進一步細化高溫警示和應變措施。
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