The relentless grip of extreme heat in India is not just a weather phenomenon; it's a force that's pushing the country's poorest workers deeper into the abyss of poverty. This is the stark reality laid bare by new research from the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), which exclusively shared its findings with The Guardian. The study reveals a disturbing trend: extreme heat acts as a 'poverty multiplier' for India's vast informal sector, affecting hundreds of millions of workers.
The economic impact is staggering. Those engaged in physically demanding jobs, such as agriculture, construction, and transport, suffered an average salary loss of 6.6% in 2024 due to extreme heat. Outdoor workers bore the brunt, losing nearly 9% of their earnings, amounting to a substantial £112 ($151). The arid desert region of Rajasthan, plagued by prolonged heatwaves and a rising death toll, saw the highest economic loss, with informal workers losing the equivalent of 8.3% of their income.
The Human Cost
The IIED research estimates that each year, India loses a staggering 21.1 working days per person due to extreme heat. This is an unbearable loss for the 550 million workers in the informal sector, many of whom are already struggling to make ends meet. Ritu Bharadwaj, the climate finance director at IIED, emphasizes the dire situation: "Heat is quietly pushing these families deeper into poverty. As the heat rises, their efficiency goes down, so they earn less. With lower income, their food intake falls. And because they cannot afford to stop, they keep working through it, doing lasting damage to their health."
A Crisis of Inequality
The human-caused climate breakdown is exacerbating the problem, making heatwaves more intense and frequent. India, with its predominantly informal economy, is at risk of becoming one of the first places where heatwaves surpass the human survivability limit, as per a World Bank report. The economic cost is estimated to be at least £58 billion, equivalent to 2% of India's GDP, due to lost wages, worksite closures, and long-term health impacts.
The Plight of Informal Workers
Informal workers, who lack employment security, are often forced to work through illness and endure unsafe conditions. Access to basic amenities like drinking water, shade, rest areas, sanitation, and medical support is poor. Many return to homes that offer no respite from the heat. The stories of construction workers interviewed by The Guardian paint a grim picture. They speak of repeated illnesses, collapses, and injuries, with little to no compensation from employers. Some, like Inder and Laxmi Kumar, are trapped in a cycle of illness and lost wages, struggling to support their families.
The Hidden Health Crisis
Prolonged exposure to heat and dehydration increases the risk of chronic kidney disease. The IIED research estimates that over time, one in 20 informal workers in India could develop this condition, affecting over 26 million workers. Sattavir, a 38-year-old labourer, is a stark example, having developed a kidney infection due to working in extreme heat. He now faces a bleak future, with limited work opportunities and mounting medical expenses.
A Call for Action
The impact of extreme heat on India's poorest workers is a crisis that demands urgent attention. It's not just an economic issue; it's a matter of human rights and dignity. As the world grapples with the consequences of climate change, we must ensure that the most vulnerable among us are not left to bear the brunt of this crisis. The time to act is now.
