Greece’s Labour Ministry on Monday ordered a five-hour halt to outdoor work as a fresh heatwave pushed temperatures beyond 40 °C in parts of the country. From noon to 5 p.m., construction crews, food-delivery riders and other outdoor manual labourers in central Greece and several islands, including Rhodes and Samos, were barred from working. Employers have been urged to shift staff to remote work wherever possible. The National Meteorological Service (EMY) expects the hot spell to last until Thursday, with daytime highs that could reach 42 °C. Civil protection authorities placed the fire brigade on heightened alert amid an elevated risk of wildfires, while other ministries coordinated measures to shield vulnerable groups. It is the second heatwave in less than two weeks, underscoring what officials describe as the growing strain that climate change is placing on the country’s workforce and emergency services.