Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation
In recent ILO study findings, Heat stress is anticipated to affect labour efficiency and productivity. Examine its impact and suggest some measures to mitigate its effect.
India is undergoing a consistent increase in temperatures annually. By 2030, an estimated 160 million-200 million individuals around the nation may face the risk of experiencing deadly heat waves every year.
Heat stress is anticipated to affect labour efficiency and productivity
1) Working Hours
● Heat stress is projected to reduce total working hours worldwide by 2.2 percent and global GDP by US$2,400 billion in 2030.
● Agricultural and construction workers are expected to be the worst affected
2) Heat-related fatalities
● Recent ILO (2024) estimates that 2.41 billion workers worldwide are exposed to extreme heat.
● Exposure to extreme heat at work is directly associated with about 22.85 million injuries and 18,970 fatalities annually.
3) Gross Domestic Product (GDP) losses
● The Asia and the Pacific regions experience the highest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) losses due to heat stress affecting labour productivity.
● In 1995, the region’s GDP was estimated to have decreased by 1.4%, which is forecast to decrease by 2.3% in 2030 due to climate change.
4) Food Security
● The decline in available working hours and output among small-scale and subsistence farmers is expected to affect household food security.
5) Gender disparities
● It poses concerns that have the potential to exacerbate gender disparities in the workforce.
● Deteriorating working conditions for the numerous women engaged in subsistence agriculture.
Impacts of the rising frequency and intensity of heat stress across India
1) Risk of experiencing
● By 2030, an estimated 160 million-200 million individuals around the nation may face the risk of experiencing deadly heat waves every year.
2) Job losses
● Approximately 34 million people in India will experience job losses due to reduced productivity caused by heat stress.
● Example: West Bengal shows – temperature increases by 1°C, there is a corresponding decrease of approximately 2% in the productivity of female brickmaking workers.
3) Decline in full-time employment
● India is expected to experience a significant decline in full-time employment by 2030 as a result of heat stress, which can be attributed to its large population.
4) Informal economy
● Migrant workers often work in hazardous and physically demanding jobs, primarily in the informal economy.
5) Increased mortality
● It can lead to a rise in heatstroke, dehydration, and other heat-related illnesses, resulting in increased mortality rates, particularly among vulnerable populations such as the elderly and outdoor workers.
Measures to mitigate its effect
1) National guidelines
● ‘Preparation of Action Plan – Prevention and Management of Heat Wave’, by the National Disaster Management Authority in collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs.
● These guidelines are designed to protect the Indian workforce from the negative impacts of extreme heat.
2) Sufficient infrastructure
● The development of sufficient infrastructure and enhanced early warning systems for extreme weather events.
●It is crucial for all stakeholders, including governments, employers, and workers, to collaborate in implementing measures that prioritise the protection of the most vulnerable individuals
3) Implementation of international labour standards
● There should be a focus on improving the implementation of international labour standards that are related to occupational safety and health.
● This will ensure that those affected by heat stress are provided with suitable working conditions.
4) Effective communication
● Effective communication between workers and employers is essential to facilitate the adjustment of working hours, guarantee adequate rest breaks, provide access to drinking water, and offer training on the identification and management of heat stress.
5) Green jobs
● Green jobs are employment opportunities that help protect or restore the environment while also supporting economic and social well-being.
The government may implement adequate regulatory and legislative measures in occupations that are susceptible to heat waves in order to ensure the safety and well-being of workers. Considering the current climate change scenario, decent and green employment emerges as a promising solution for the future of work.
Source:
https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/heat-stress-is-more-than-a-degree-of-concern/arti cle68433789.ece#:~:text=Workers%2C%20who%20are%20particularly%20vulnerable,kidne y%20injury%2C%20and%20physical%20injury.
https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/india-is-likely-undercountingheat-deaths-affecting-its-response-to-increasingly-harsh-heat-waves/article68366495.ece