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Greece's Labor and Social Security Ministry banned outdoor work between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. local time on Wednesday as extreme heat swept the country, according to a written statement from the ministry.
The measure applies to construction sites, shipyards and courier services operating outdoors in Central Greece, Thessaly, the Peloponnese and the Attica region, which includes the capital, Athens.
Officials said the restriction was introduced to protect worker safety as temperatures were forecast to spike sharply during the day.
Office employees with existing health conditions, along with elderly and pregnant workers considered part of a higher health-risk group, were also authorized to work from home under the same directive.
According to Greece's National Meteorological Service, a heatwave that began on July 19 was continuing to affect the country, with temperatures forecast to exceed 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in Attica, Viotia, Fthiotida, Argolida, Thessaly and Corinth. Thessaly was expected to see the highest readings, with temperatures forecast to reach 43 degrees Celsius.
The meteorological service also said Saharan dust was expected to accompany the heat in several areas, including Crete, the Peloponnese and the southern Aegean islands, adding to hazardous conditions in those regions.
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