ATHENS – Two weeks of heat hovering around – and above – 100 degrees and as high as 111 degrees in some places is taking a toll on residents, tourists and workers in Greece, especially food delivery drivers on mopeds carrying orders.

The blistering weather has led authorities to close down the Acropolis and archaeological sites during afternoon hours at times, and prohibited outdoor work, including for the drivers, cutting into their livelihood.

In a feature on their dilemma, Reuters noted that thermal cameras have recorded temperatures of about 70 Celsius (158 Fahrenheit) on the road surface, right under the feet of the drivers trying to bear the heat.

https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/society-equity/heatwave-poses-big-challenge-greeces-delivery-workers-2024-07-18/

Food delivery driver Yannis Asimakopoulos told the news site this is the hottest summer he remembers in 17 years on a motorbike taking orders to people and how difficult a job it is in such weather.

“Driving is really hard. You have to wear a helmet, the lens of the helmet fogs up from the sweat. You have to stop all the time, the tires melt faster, the street is slippery, the conditions in general are really difficult,” Asimakopoulos said.

He added that, “Every year I see a huge difference in the temperature. I see a rise and it lasts longer. Before it was two or three days,” he added, with climate change being largely blamed and mostly unaddressed by world governments.

The government ordered some businesses not to let their employees perform heavy outdoor duty from 12-5 p.m. if the temperature hits 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees,) but unions said it should be 38 degrees Celsius (100.4 Fahrenheit.)

It wasn’t said if the prohibition was being enforced or if the delivery food workers who rely on tips for much of their income were being deterred by the heat and the necessity of needing the job.

“Many people… who need more money for their families will continue to work, and the employers will exploit this,” Asimakopoulos, Greek businesses at times ignoring or defying laws and squeezing workers to perform even in heatwaves.

More than 20,000 drivers deliver food, beverages and other goods in Athens, the report said, and are a frequent sight buzzing around in traffic, weaving in and out of traffic in a rush to deliver food before it gets cold.

In some areas, the lowest temperature recorded was 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit,) increasing the impact of heat stress on humans, said Kostas Lagouvardos, Research Director of the national observatory. “There is no hour of the day to feel better,” he said.