"Hot work in India sparks labour showdown", 23 February 2026

The absence of enforceable indoor heat standards under India’s Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSHWC) Code leaves workers exposed to escalating climate risk, according to a new independent trade union.

...the Amazon India Workers Union (AIWU) has submitted detailed recommendations to the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

It argues that workers are being put at risk by extreme temperatures which exceeded 50°C in parts of India last year...

Although the OSHWC Code was passed in 2020 as part of four consolidated labour codes intended to modernise India’s regulatory landscape, it was only brought into force in late 2025 after prolonged delays and rule-making at state level.

The code replaced 13 previous laws, including the Factories Act, 1948, which had explicitly empowered states to prescribe ventilation and temperature standards and require monitoring instruments such as hygrometers.

The AIWU argues that the consolidation created gaps. While the OSHWC Code contains general duties for employers to provide safe working conditions, it does not prescribe maximum indoor temperatures, mandatory work-rest cycles or hydration protocols...

Over recent years, media investigations and worker testimonies have described physically demanding conditions inside large e-commerce fulfilment centres, including those operated by Amazon...

India’s garment factories...similarly rely on large indoor production floors, often with limited climate control...

If enforceable heat standards are incorporated into OSHWC rules following the AIWU’s submission, textile manufacturers may face new requirements on ventilation systems, temperature monitoring, medical screening and rest breaks.