Extreme heat affects the health and wages of India's poorest workers

Extreme heat is making it harder for some of India's poorest workers to earn a living, with outdoor workers losing up to 9% of their income, according to new research. This extreme weather is described as a factor that increases poverty for millions in India's informal economy.

The analysis, conducted by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) and shared with the Guardian, found that workers in physically demanding jobs like agriculture, construction, and transport lost an average of 6.6% of their pay in 2024 because of extreme heat. Those who work outdoors suffered the most, losing nearly 9% of their salary, which amounts to approximately £112 ($151) in 2024.

The economic impact was most severe in Rajasthan, a desert region known for long periods of extreme heat and a rising number of heat-related deaths. Informal workers in this area lost the equivalent of 8.3% of their income. This is because the intense heat made it physically impossible for them to continue working.

The IIED research estimates that India loses 21.1 working days each year due to extreme heat. For the estimated 550 million workers in the informal sector, this loss of income is too significant to bear.

Ritu Bharadwaj, climate finance director at the IIED, stated that the findings highlight how extreme heat is worsening poverty and existing social inequalities in India. She explained that as temperatures rise, workers become less efficient, leading to lower earnings. This reduced income can mean less food, and workers often continue working despite the health risks because they cannot afford to stop, causing long-term damage to their health.

Climate change, caused by human activities, is making heatwaves more severe and frequent globally. A World Bank report indicated that India, where most people work in the informal economy, might be one of the first places to experience heatwaves that exceed human survival limits.

The research suggests that heat could cost the Indian economy at least £58bn, or 2% of its GDP. This cost includes lost wages due to reduced productivity, temporary closures of workplaces, and long-term health problems caused by heat exposure.

The study considered three main reasons why heat reduces working hours: illnesses caused by heat, a decreased ability to perform work at normal levels, and time lost when businesses temporarily shut down due to the heat.

Workers in the informal sector are often among the most disadvantaged and economically vulnerable. They typically lack job security, which forces them to work even when they are ill and to endure unsafe working conditions.

The report also noted that essential facilities such as drinking water, shade, rest areas, and sanitation at worksites were often inadequate. Many workers return to homes that offer no escape from the heat.

Several construction workers interviewed by the Guardian reported falling ill repeatedly over the past four months due to the heat. This led to missed workdays and lost income. Some had even collapsed and suffered serious injuries but received no compensation from their employers, and in some cases, were denied payment for the days they did work.

Inder and Laxmi Kumar, who work on a construction site near Delhi, described being bedridden with fever, body aches, and exhaustion. However, after losing eight days of wages, they could no longer afford to stay home and had to return to work.

Laxmi recalled feeling as though her body was on fire and that they continued working because stopping meant not getting paid. Doctors diagnosed them with dehydration and heat exhaustion, advising rest. The couple earns about £6 each per day, supporting their two young sons and four other relatives. Their workday lasts eight to 10 hours, with minimal breaks and little shade.

In the last three months, they have fallen ill three times, losing almost four weeks of work and spending a significant portion of their earnings on medication. Inder expressed desperation, stating that any savings are spent on medical costs, leaving little to send home. He mentioned that every labourer he knows at the site has fallen ill this summer, and the extreme heat often spoils their packed lunches, making them sicker.

Their home is a small shelter made of tarpaulin, and even at night, their living space remains extremely hot. Laxmi described the feeling of working and sleeping inside an oven, especially when her son becomes restless due to the heat.

For female labourers, the challenges are often greater, as they frequently have to care for young children during the workday. Kumkumari, a 35-year-old worker, shared that she has to pour water on her two-year-old daughter to cool her down, as the child often falls sick, requiring Kumkumari to care for her instead of working.

Prolonged exposure to heat and dehydration can lead to chronic kidney disease. The IIED research estimates that over time, one in 20 informal workers in India could develop this condition, affecting more than 26 million people.

Sattavir, a 38-year-old man looking for daily labour work in Gurugram, developed a kidney infection after working in extreme heat and repeated dehydration. He has been able to work only eight days in the past two months. He earned less than he spent on medicines and treatment, pushing him further into debt. Despite doctors advising him to seek treatment, he continues to look for work.

After waiting in the sun for hours, Sattavir was not hired, marking the third consecutive day he returned home without work. He noted that employers are less likely to hire someone who appears weak.