Addressing Heatwaves Impact on Informal Workers in India

Informal workers in India, despite their significant contributions and numbers, are largely excluded from urban heat response planning. With rising temperatures due to climate change, cities like Delhi are experiencing dangerously high temperatures, affecting millions of urban informal workers severely.

Current State and Challenges

• Temperature Surge: In April 2025, Delhi recorded temperatures above 41°C, marking a dangerous new normal.
• Economic Impact: In 2024, the Reserve Bank of India projected a 4.5% GDP loss due to extreme heat affecting occupationally exposed workers.
• Heat Action Plans (HAPs): While many cities have HAPs inspired by Ahmedabad's model, they are often underfunded and lack coordination.
• Invisibility of Informal Workers: Informal workers are rarely mentioned explicitly in HAPs, focusing instead on short-term disaster management.
• Fragmented Governance: Multiple ministries operate independently, leading to inconsistent protections for workers.

Global and National Best Practices

• International Measures:
  • In the U.S., states like California and Oregon enforce worker protections like providing water, shade, and rest breaks.
  • France's "Plan Canicule" involves hydration mandates and public space access during heat alerts.
  • Qatar and Australia restrict outdoor work during peak heat times.
• Indian Initiatives:
  • Ahmedabad adjusted work hours and provided shaded rest areas.
  • Odisha mandates a halt to outdoor work during peak hours.

Recommendations for Improved Heat Response

• Update NDMA Guidelines: Explicitly include informal workers and map occupational vulnerabilities.
• Worker Participation: Involve worker collectives and unions in creating HAPs.
• Establish Cooling Facilities: Create shaded rest zones and hydration points in key public locations.
• Innovative Financing: Leverage CSR and city development budgets to support local heat adaptation solutions.
• Infrastructure Design: Incorporate heat resilience into city planning with natural shade, cooling infrastructure, and retrofitting informal workspaces.
• National Coordination: Form an inter-ministerial task force to develop an integrated climate resilience and worker protection road map.

Inaction on these fronts means severe consequences, including loss of lives and livelihoods, especially for informal workers who already face the brunt of climate change. Immediate, inclusive, and comprehensive strategies are critical for ensuring the safety and well-being of this vulnerable workforce.