Impact of Heat Waves on Informal Workers

Source-This post on Impact of Heat Waves on Informal Workers has been created based on the article “Heatwave and the death of a worker: What heat action plan must focus on” published in “The Indian Express” on 31 May 2024.

UPSC Syllabus-GS Paper-3– Disaster Management

Context-The article highlights the severe impact of the intense heat wave in northern India, particularly on informal workers who constitute a significant portion of the urban workforce.

Crowded urban areas worsen the heat island effect, putting informal workers at greater risk because of their unstable jobs, absence of safety nets, and existing socio- economic vulnerabilities.

What are Heat Action Plans (HAPs), and how effective are they?

Read more-Heat Action Plan

What are the impacts of severe heat waves on Informal Workers?

1) Working in extreme heat hurts the productivity and earnings of informal workers, whether they’re inside or outside. Workers often suffer from heat-related illnesses like fatigue, dehydration, anxiety, and heat stroke. The absence of basic facilities like drinking water and shade at work sites makes these health risks worse.

2) Most informal workers don’t have health insurance, so they pay for medical treatment, which reduces their already low income during hot months. They end up spending more on protective gear and transport, squeezing their profits.

3) Domestic workers face constant heat from stoves, while those working from home deal with cramped and hot living conditions.

4) Construction workers struggle under the scorching sun and in makeshift shelters. Street vendors lose money as their goods spoil quickly and they have fewer customers.

5)  Women, who make up a big part of informal workers, must spend more time caring for family members due to food spoilage and other heat-related issues

What should be the way forward?

There are several policy recommendations such as-

1) There is a need to see heat waves as prolonged disasters not merely a conventional disaster event. Thus, instead of a temporary solution, Heat Action Plans (HAPs) should be integrated with bigger, long-term plans for urban planning and climate action.

This should also involve the NDMA collaborating with other organizations in urban areas, such as the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and the Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoLE).

2) There should be incorporation of diverse groups of informal workers in urban settings and to provide clearer directives at the national level. These guidelines can assist states in expanding and adapting them according to their unique circumstances.

3) There is a need to explore the distinctions between indoor and outdoor work to develop comprehensive guidelines and interventions. This is important because indoor workers often encounter extreme heat as well.

4) It’s important to involve worker communities and listen to their opinions when making action plans.

5) Heat affects women workers more severely than men, so plans to address heat stress must take this into account.

6)There is a need to provide climate-resilient social protection, income protection, and compensation for income loss to workers.

7) There is a need to rethink labor laws and codes from the perspective of informal workers and climate change impacts.

Our cities and society often neglect informal workers. It’s crucial to rethink urban planning, not only to offer amenities like water, shade, and resting spots during heat waves but also to enhance workers’ rights in urban areas.

Question for practice

What are the impacts of severe heat waves on Informal Workers?