Background information

Under the statutory instrument 1438/2022 of the Hungarian government on ‘Commitments for central government bodies in connection with the procurement of natural gas’ effective 9 September 2022, public buildings must reduce their gas consumption by 25% compared with their 2022/2023 levels. Exempted from this measure are health-care facilities, residential social facilities and childcare facilities. Nevertheless, they must keep their gas consumption allocation level equal to their level in 2021. The aim of the measure is to reduce gas consumption and dependency on natural gas.

Content of measure

The measure concerns the buildings of all state-run entities and government agencies at the highest level, as well as the facilities of state-owned companies. This means that government buildings can not be heated over 18 degrees Celsius, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office Gergely Gulyás said at a press briefing on 8 September 2022. Asked whether the measure would apply to schools, the minister said that would have to be examined and information was forthcoming later on. A senior official added that schools may find other ways to reduce gas use, for instance by closing school swimming pools.

Use of measure

By implementing the 25% reduction of gas consumption in government institutions, the country will save about 200 million cubic metres of gas, Gulyás said. He added that he expects the overall gas consumption to decrease, with companies and households, in addition to government buildings, decreasing their energy consumption.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Other groups of workers	Other businesses	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government	No special funding required

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	No involvement	No involvement
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

Trade unions almost immediately responded to the announcement of the measure by declaring that working in an 18 Celsius environment is hazardous to health. The tripartite Occupational Health and Safety Committee met on 16 February 2023 to discuss a demand from trade union MÉDOSZ that the 18 Celsius temperature control law should be revoked as it is unhealthy for workers.

Views and reactions

The Hungarian Trade Union Confederation (MASZSZ) said in a statement that making employees work in 18 Celsius offices breaks several laws, hvg.hu reported. Even Hungary's Fundamental Law states that workers have a right to a healthy environment, MASZSZ leader Róbert Zlati said. Citing 3/2002 ministerial decree on the minimum level of work safety rules, the leader of the Hungarian Civil Servants and Public Employees Trade Union (MKKSZ), Mrs Péter Boros told hvg.hu that for desk jobs, the minimum required temperature at 0.5 metres should be 20-22C degrees. Zlati said that the 25% gas consumption cut could have been achieved just by keeping the legal minimum temperature, voicing discontent that the government again had not consulted with social players on the measure.

Sources

• 08 September 2022: 18C in schools would not be ideal, says doctor (hvg.hu)
• 09 September 2022: TU MASZSZ: 18C office temperature breaks several laws (hvg.hu)
• 09 September 2022: Statutory instrument 1438/2022 (njt.hu)
• 20 February 2023: OHS tripartite discusses union protest of temperature control in offices (www.liganet.hu)