Why in the News?

The International Labour Organization’s (ILO) latest report, ‘Ensuring safety and health at work in a changing climate’, is an urgent call to ensure the future of labour is climate proofed and to address the constantly evolving work environment as the planet warms.

What are the Emerging Hazards? (The ILO has identified six key impacts of climate change)

• Solar Ultraviolet Radiation: Increased exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation due to climate change can have adverse effects on outdoor workers, potentially leading to skin damage and cancer.
• Extreme Weather Events: Climate change is contributing to the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as hurricanes, floods, and wildfires, which pose significant risks to workers in various sectors.
• Workplace Air Pollution: Climate change can exacerbate air pollution in workplaces, particularly in industrial settings, leading to respiratory illnesses and other health problems among workers.
• Vector-Borne Diseases: Changing climate patterns can influence the distribution and prevalence of vector-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, and Zika virus, posing risks to workers in affected regions.
• Agrochemicals: Agricultural workers may face increased exposure to agrochemicals due to changes in pest and disease patterns resulting from climate change, potentially leading to health issues such as pesticide poisoning.
• Gig Economy Workers: The rise of gig employment, particularly in heat-susceptible sectors such as transportation and delivery services, exposes workers to additional risks related to heat stress and other climate-related hazards.

Most affected Sectors of the Economy:

• Agriculture: Despite a decline in the proportion of the workforce engaged in agriculture over the past few decades, it remains the most heat-susceptible sector, particularly in the developing world like India.
  • The NSSO data of July 2018-June 2019 reveal that almost 90% of Indian farmers own less than two hectares of land, and earn an average monthly income of a little over ₹10,000
• Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs): India’s vast MSME sector, employing over 123 million workers, contributes significantly to the country’s economy. However, the sector’s informalization poses challenges in ensuring worker safety and health.
  • Lack of oversight by state Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) departments makes workers highly vulnerable to heat hazards, despite the sector’s substantial contribution to exports and manufacturing output.
• Building and Construction: With approximately 70 million workers, the construction sector in India faces the urban heat island effect, especially in rapidly growing cities. Workers in this sector are exposed to physical injuries and health hazards such as asthma due to air pollution, as many Indian cities rank among the most polluted globally as per World Air Quality Report 2023 by IQAir.

Way forward:

• Enhanced Regulations and Enforcement: Implement and enforce the Occupational Safety, Health, and Working Conditions Code, 2020 to ensure comprehensive protection for workers across all sectors. This includes setting clear standards for workplace safety, regular inspections, and penalties for non-compliance.
• Heat Stress Management: Implement measures to manage heat stress in workplaces, especially in heat-susceptible sectors like agriculture and construction. This can include providing access to shaded rest areas, increasing hydration facilities, adjusting work schedules to avoid peak heat hours.
• Healthcare Access: Ensure access to healthcare services for workers, including regular health check-ups and treatment for heat-related illnesses and other occupational health issues. This may involve setting up medical facilities near worksites or providing transportation to nearby healthcare facilities.

Mains PYQ 

Q ‘Climate change’ is a global problem. How India will be affected by climate change? How Himalayan and coastal states of India will be affected by climate change? (UPSC IAS/2017)

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