The prime minister wants to set a new office fashion trend to remain cool this Summer
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is urging workers across his country to go tieless amid heat waves that are scorching parts of Europe. The prime minister set an example for this himself during a news conference on Friday.
"I'd like you all to note that I am not wearing a tie," he said in the conference as quoted by Euronews.
The move is an attempt from Sanchez to push for energy-saving methods as the heat encourages greater usage of air-conditioning. But Spain is also undertaking measures to conserve energy ahead of a looming crisis should Ukraine and Russia's conflict further escalate.
According to Sanchez, going tieless means they can "all save from an energy point of view."
The prime minister added that he has already asked his ministers to ditch their ties and is now asking private businesses to follow suit.
"I have asked ministers, all public officials, and I would like to ask the private sector too, if they haven't already done so, not to wear a tie when it isn't necessary because that way we will be confronting the energy saving that is so important in our country," he said as quoted by CBC.
Read more: Employers urged to adjust shifts amid hot weather
Removing ties is just one of the steps in Spain's plan to cool down while conserving energy, as the government is developing an energy-saving decree that includes an order for businesses to keep their doors closed whenever possible to prevent air-conditioning from going out, reported BBC.
Deutsche Welle reported that Spain is already encouraging remote work and implementing curbs on air-conditioning in offices in summer and heat in the winter.
The country, like other nations in the European Union (EU), wants to reduce its energy dependency on Russia and boost renewables in case Moscow decides to cut off energy supply as retaliation on EU's sanctions against it.
The crisis further puts at risk an already scorching nation as parts of Europe suffer from extremely high temperatures due to climate change.
Unions in the United Kingdom are already calling on employers to ensure that their staff do not suffer from heat-related illnesses amid the high temperatures.
