The thermal cost of India’s textile surge

Source: The post “The thermal cost of India’s textile surge” has been created, based on “The thermal cost of India’s textile surge” published in “The Hindu” on 9 April 2026. The thermal cost of India’s textile surge.

UPSC Syllabus: GS Paper-3- Economy

Context: India is currently benefiting from global textile trade shifts, but rising heat stress is creating a serious thermodynamic challenge for its industrial workforce. This issue is not only environmental but also affects productivity, labour welfare, and supply chain stability.

Causes of the Crisis

1. Rising temperatures due to climate change have led to factory indoor temperatures frequently exceeding 35–40°C, which is above the safe working threshold of 30°C.
2. Studies show that at 33–34°C, a worker’s productive capacity is reduced by nearly half, making extreme heat a physiological limit.
3. The textile industry is highly labour-intensive and employs around 45 million workers, making it particularly vulnerable to heat stress.
4. Many factories lack adequate cooling systems, rest breaks, and health safeguards, especially for informal workers.
5. Global supply chains impose strict deadlines and penalties, forcing factories to continue operations even under unsafe thermal conditions.

Impacts

(1) Impact on Productivity

1. India lost approximately 259 billion labour hours annually between 2001 and 2020 due to heat stress, indicating a major productivity crisis.
2. The loss increased to around 247 billion hours in 2024 alone, showing the worsening nature of the problem.
3. Annual economic losses exceed $600 billion due to reduced labour efficiency.
4. Productivity declines by about 2% per degree rise in temperature, and this reduction can reach 4% on extremely hot days.
5. High temperatures also cause machinery overheating and technical failures, leading to operational disruptions.

(2) Impact on Workers

1. Workers often lose up to 50% of their wages during extreme heat due to reduced working hours or inability to work.
2. Heat exposure leads to serious health issues such as heatstroke, dehydration, and increased workplace injuries.
3. Informal workers lack access to paid leave, cooling breaks, and social security, increasing their vulnerability.

(3) Impact on Supply Chains

1. Heat stress creates a “thermodynamic bottleneck” where production cannot be sustained beyond physical limits.
2. Supply chains may collapse abruptly rather than gradually when human tolerance limits are exceeded.
3. The burden of delays and disruptions is disproportionately shifted onto workers due to their weak bargaining power.

(4) Broader Socio-Economic Impact

1. The crisis disproportionately affects poor and informal workers, increasing inequality.
2. By 2030, India is projected to lose 5.8% of total working hours due to extreme heat, equivalent to around 34 million full-time jobs.

Way Forward

1. Policy Measures

1. The government must recognise heat stress as a critical supply chain risk and integrate it into industrial and trade policies.
2. Climate projections should be incorporated into long-term industrial planning.

2. 2. Workplace Interventions

1. Factories should adopt mandatory heat action plans that include enforceable temperature thresholds and regulated working hours.
2. Adequate cooling systems, rest breaks, and regular health assessments must be ensured.

3. Financial Measures

1. Banks should include climate risks in their lending assessments to promote resilient industrial practices.
2. Governments should provide concessional credit and incentives for investment in cooling and heat management technologies.

4. Labour Welfare Measures

1.  Labour laws should be strengthened to explicitly address heat stress and ensure safe working conditions.
2. Workers must have guaranteed access to clean drinking water, shaded rest areas, and medical support.

5. Technological Measures: Investment in research and development is needed for wearable cooling technologies, heat-resilient cotton, and energy-efficient production systems.
6. 6. Global Supply Chain Responsibility

1. International buyers should share the cost of climate adaptation through fair pricing and longer delivery timelines.
2. The global fashion industry must move beyond treating labour costs as static and account for climate realities.

Conclusion: The heat stress crisis shows that industrial growth cannot be sustained without addressing environmental and human limits. A balanced approach that integrates economic growth with climate resilience and worker protection is essential for sustainable development.

Source: The Hindu

Question: Rising heat stress poses a significant challenge to India’s labour-intensive textile industry, affecting productivity, worker welfare, and supply chain stability. Discuss the causes and impacts of this crisis. Suggest measures to address it.