"For migrant workers in Indian cities, Heatwaves are direct threat to life, livelihood,"

India’s vast informal sector, encompassing over 90% of the workforce, bears the brunt of scorching heatwaves. Labourers in construction, rag-picking, street vending, factories, and agriculture toil under the relentless sun, while others battle stifling heat and humidity indoors. The 2024 heatwave, one of India’s worst, claimed 143 lives and left over 41,000 suffering from suspected heatstroke between March and June, according to the Health Ministry.

Heatwaves across the northern and eastern parts of India have disproportionately affected people. Already facing low wages, precarious living conditions, and a lack of safety nets, they’re the most susceptible to extreme weather events like heatwaves, floods, and cyclones. From Ahmedabad’s markets, where workers grapple with heavy loads in scorching temperatures, to garment factories where women face stifling heat while checking and packing clothes, to foundries where skilled labourers endure the intense heat of “dhalai” (casting), these migrant communities face a daily struggle for survival compounded by climate extremes...

Soaring summer temperatures disproportionately burden working-class people, especially migrant workers in informal jobs. Dr. Das [Director at the National Institute of Occupational Health] emphasizes the difficult choices these workers face.

“It is also clear that workers will not prioritise their health over their livelihoods during these extremely hot days, as this will lead to loss of wages and that is something they cannot afford,” he said.

The National Institute of Occupational Health (NIOH) has developed a nine-step plan that integrates worker, employer, and government efforts to minimize heat stress and related disorders.