China Labor Compliance and High-Temperature Allowance

With increasing extreme summer temperatures in China, employers must implement measures to protect employees from heat-related health risks, including both physical safeguards and compliance with high-temperature allowance regulations. High-heat labor protection is governed by national legislation and local implementation rules, which determine allowance amounts, calculation methods, and applicable months for each province.

The law provides for a cash allowance based on specific heat conditions: for outdoor work a temperature equal or higher than 35°C, for indoor work a temperature equal or higher than 33°C with insufficient cooling. The cash allowance cannot be substituted with benefits like cold drinks, is subject to personal income tax, and is eligible for all staff, including interns, dispatch, temporary, hourly workers and foreigners under Chinese labor contracts.

Other employer duties include rescheduling working hours to avoid peak heat, providing cooling and protective measures (cooling devices, rest areas, cold water, PPE) and planning training sessions and health checks. Summer inspections by labor bureaus may occur and violations may lead to fines, retroactive worker compensation, and reputational damage.