The city of Chongqing, one of the hottest in China, is considering a new regulation that will allow many outside workers to stay home when temperatures are forecast to hit 40 degrees Celsius.

It will be business as usual, however, for workers in air-conditioned environments. Essential workers, such as bus drivers, will have shortened work days and be provided with beverages, according to a draft of the new regulation published on the municipal government's website.

Last summer there were 18 days when the temperature in this southwestern Chinese city was officially reported to have climbed above 40 degrees.

Chongqing's government said it will hold an online hearing on its website next Tuesday to gather public opinion on the new regulation, which is expected to take effect this summer.

The draft regulation also includes a hot weather allowance which would be paid to outside workers between July and September.

The city experienced a nightmarish summer last year with prolonged heat wave and drought. On Aug. 16th the temperature reached 44.5 degrees, the highest temperature since records began to be kept 53 years ago. During the two hottest days in mid August, more than 10,000 people suffered sunstroke. Most of them were at work.

Chongqing is expecting an unusually hot summer this year. By the end of March temperatures had already reached 33 degrees.

The proposed new regulation would also ban employers from forcing employees to work unprotected under the sun between 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM if the temperature is projected to be 39 or above.

Employers who violate the law may face fines up to 20,000 yuan (US$2,564) and will be prosecuted if their exploitation jeopardizes workers' health.

China's labor law does not have specific clauses on labor protection on hot weather.

The southern boom city Shenzhen ruled in 2005 that outdoor workers should stop working when the temperature reaches 40, and should work for no more than four hours a day when it hits 38.

Outdoor workers in Shenzhen are given hot weather allowances of at least 150 yuan (US$19) a month between July and September.

(Xinhua News Agency April 5, 2007)