in-cyprus 26 July 2025
Labour inspectors have conducted 128 workplace inspections over the past two days as part of a campaign to prevent heat exhaustion among workers, issuing 11 summonses for violations of heatwave work restrictions.
The Department of Labour Inspection intensified checks following its warning to halt outdoor heavy and moderate work, as well as transport and delivery operations, between 12:00-16:00 due to extreme temperatures and an orange weather alert from the Meteorological Service.
Marina Kougialli, senior official at the Department of Labour Inspection, told the Cyprus News Agency that inspections conducted throughout the summer have been intensified in recent days due to the orange warning.
During the checks, the department issued 11 summonses, nine improvement notices and banned work or parts of work at seven sites where serious risk to workers was identified.
The work ban applies to workplaces in the country’s interior (areas below 300 metres altitude, more than 10 kilometres from the coastline) and higher mountainous regions (mountainous areas above 1,150 metres altitude).
Kougialli explained that the suspension of outdoor heavy and moderate work, as well as transport and delivery operations between 12:00-16:00, is mandated by legislation when orange and red alerts for extreme temperatures are in effect.
Various workplaces falling under these categories are being checked, she said, with particular emphasis on construction sites and buildings. During inspections, she clarified, inspectors also found workplaces that had complied with regulations, so no inspection was necessary.
Regarding fines, Kougialli said penalties for worker heat stress start from €500 and reach up to €1,000, though additional violations can be added to summonses, increasing the penalty amount.
Kougialli emphasised that in workplaces where the work ban does not apply, employers must measure temperature and relative humidity, factors that contribute to thermal load, in areas where work is conducted.
According to the department’s warning, employers must adjust their operations based on temperature and humidity measurements, implementing short breaks; resting in shaded and cool areas or suitably air-conditioned spaces or areas with fans; creating shaded or covered areas where possible; rotating workers according to the type of work and avoiding strenuous outdoor work during the hottest hours of the day.
