‘When I get home, my whole body aches’: extreme heat saps health and wages of India’s poorest workers
Summary
Extreme heat in India is causing poor outdoor workers to lose income and suffer health problems. Research shows that heat reduces their ability to work, leading to wage losses of up to 9% and worsening poverty for millions in the informal job sector.Key Facts
- Outdoor workers in India lost nearly 9% of their salary in 2024 due to extreme heat.
- Workers in physically demanding jobs like agriculture and construction lost an average of 6.6% of their income.
- In Rajasthan, workers lost 8.3% of their income due to prolonged heatwaves and extreme temperatures.
- India’s informal sector has about 550 million workers, who lost around 21 working days per year because of heat.
- The heat causes illness, reduced work capacity, and temporary workplace closures, all reducing work hours.
- Many informal workers cannot take breaks or stop working even when sick, as they risk losing wages.
- Poor access to water, shade, sanitation, and medical support worsens workers’ conditions.
- The economic cost of extreme heat in India could reach £58 billion (2% of GDP) because of lower productivity and health impacts.
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