Why is it in the News?

The latest report from the International Labour Organization (ILO), titled 'Safeguarding Workers in a Changing Climate', underscores the pressing necessity to ensure the resilience of labour in the face of climate change.

Context:

• The International Labour Organisation (ILO) recently released a report titled "Ensuring Safety and Health at Work in a Changing Climate," highlighting the urgency of climate-proofing labour practices to protect workers' well-being.
• As the planet experiences warming, workplace environments evolve, and the ILO emphasizes the need to update occupational safety and health (OSH) regulations to address emerging risks.
• According to the report, over one-third of the global population is exposed to extreme heat each year, resulting in nearly 23 million work-related injuries.
  • The ILO urges an overhaul of existing OSH laws and protections, as they have not kept pace with climate change-related hazards, leading to increased worker mortality and morbidity.

What Are the Emerging Climate-Related Risks?

• The International Labour Organization (ILO) has identified six primary impacts of climate change:
  • Excessive heat
  • Ultraviolet (UV) radiation
  • Extreme weather events
  • Workplace air pollution
  • Vector-borne diseases
  • Agrochemicals
• These hazards can result in various health issues such as stress, stroke, and exhaustion. Particularly vulnerable to these risks are workers in sectors like agriculture, construction, urban conservation, transportation, and tourism.
• Of significant concern is the rising prevalence of gig employment globally, which is particularly susceptible to heat-related conditions.
  • In India, gig workers, including ride-hailing app drivers, food and grocery delivery personnel, home repair technicians (electricians, plumbers, AC mechanics), and courier service employees, constitute approximately 1.5% of the total workforce, a figure projected to reach 4.5% by 2030 according to a Nasscom study.
• In the Indian context, the collective impact of these segments suggests that approximately 80% of the country's workforce, projected to be 600 million by 2023, is vulnerable to heat-related hazards.
• This staggering figure exceeds the entire current population of South America by 180 million.

Which Sectors Bear the Brunt of Climate Impact?

Agriculture Sector:

• Globally, agriculture stands out as the most heat-vulnerable sector, particularly in developing nations where informal farm labourers toil without adequate weather protection.
• In India, where agriculture and allied activities employed about 45.76% of the workforce in 2022-23 according to Union Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda, there's a concerning trend of decline from levels three decades ago.
• NSSO data from July 2018 to June 2019 reveals that nearly 90% of Indian farmers own less than two hectares of land, with incomes hovering around ?10,000 monthly on average.
• The situation is even direr in states like Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal, where farmers' earnings can be as low as ?4,895, ?5,112, and ?6,762 respectively.
• Additionally, half of India's farmers are burdened with debt and lack access to modern agricultural technology, impeding their ability to adapt to a warming climate.
• Many communities have already adjusted work schedules to avoid peak heat hours, while the ILO recommends increased hydration facilities, breaks, and shaded rest areas in plantations.

Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Sector:

• Following agriculture, India's MSME sector employs over 123 million workers, accounting for about 21% of the workforce.
• Despite its significant contribution to exports and manufacturing output, the sector's pervasive informality has led to minimal oversight of worker conditions by state Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) departments, rendering workers highly susceptible to heat-related risks.

Building & Construction Sector:

• The building and construction industry, with around 70 million workers constituting almost 12% of India's workforce, faces unique challenges exacerbated by urbanization.
• Workers in this sector contend with the urban heat island effect, heightened by rapid urban growth.
• Moreover, they are disproportionately exposed to physical injuries and air pollution-related health hazards, such as asthma, given the alarming pollution levels in many Indian cities.

Legislation Safeguarding Worker Rights in India:

• Central Laws: Integral to ensuring workplace safety in India are the Factories Act, the Workmen Compensation Act, and the Building and Other Construction Workers Act.
  • These laws encompass various facets of labour rights and welfare, addressing conditions within factories and providing compensation for work-related injuries.
• Occupational Safety, Health, and Working Conditions Code, 2020 (OSH Code, 2020): Introduced in 2020, the OSH Code represents a comprehensive effort to consolidate and revise existing legislation pertaining to workplace safety.
  • Its primary objective is to streamline and strengthen the legal framework governing occupational safety and health nationwide.
  • By amalgamating disparate regulations into a unified code, it aims to establish a more cohesive and effective system for ensuring workplace safety across diverse sectors and industries.

State Laws in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra:

• Tamil Nadu: Tamil Nadu formulated its regulations under the Factories Act as early as 1950.
  • These regulations stipulate a maximum wet bulb temperature of 30°C on shop floors and outline requirements for adequate air circulation.
  • However, they lack specific provisions for thermal comfort tailored to varying activity levels or modern cooling solutions, indicating a need for updated standards.
• Maharashtra: Similarly, Maharashtra devised its rules under the Factories Act in 1963. Like Tamil Nadu, these regulations address maximum wet bulb temperatures and air circulation standards.
  • Nevertheless, they also lack detailed provisions for contemporary cooling methods or adjustments for thermal comfort aligned with evolving production processes, underscoring the necessity for modernization.

Challenges in Addressing Heat Hazards:

• Regulatory Ambiguity: Existing regulations lack specificity regarding thermal comfort standards and the integration of air conditioning in workplaces.
  • There's a pressing need to update regulations to accommodate modern cooling technologies and ensure the well-being and safety of workers.
• Impact of the Gig Economy: The burgeoning gig economy in India exacerbates workers' vulnerability to heat-related risks.
  • Many gig workers, comprising a substantial portion of the workforce, often operate without adequate protections or support systems to mitigate extreme heat conditions.
• Pressures on Labor Unions: Labour unions face mounting pressures from management and bureaucratic entities, often prioritizing industry interests over worker welfare.
  • This dynamic can result in the neglect of worker safety concerns pertaining to heat hazards and other climate-related risks.
• Effluent and Byproduct Management: The disposal of effluents and byproducts poses significant health risks, particularly with fluctuating temperatures, necessitating robust management strategies to safeguard worker health.
• Silicosis in Mining and Quarries: The escalating prevalence of silicosis, stemming from silica exposure in mines and quarries, presents a profound occupational health challenge that demands urgent attention and intervention.
• Shortcomings in Labor Inspection Departments: Vacancies and a lack of expertise within labour inspection departments undermine effective oversight of workplace safety measures, hindering the enforcement of regulations and exacerbating risks for workers.

Way Forward:

• Modernize Regulatory Frameworks: Revamp existing regulations to include clear guidelines on thermal comfort and air conditioning standards in workplaces.
  • Integrate innovative cooling technologies to ensure the safety and well-being of workers.
• Empower Labor Unions: Strengthen labour unions and equip them with the resources needed to advocate for worker welfare and safety.
  • Foster collaboration among unions, management, and governmental bodies to effectively tackle heat hazards.
• Enhance Labor Inspection Mechanisms: Boost staffing and training within labour inspection departments to enhance oversight of workplace safety.
  • Conduct regular inspections and rigorously enforce safety regulations to shield workers from climate-related risks.
• Invest in Research and Development: Allocate funding for research initiatives focused on developing climate adaptation strategies tailored to various industries.
  • Support studies assessing the efficacy of interventions and technologies in mitigating heat hazards and other climate-related risks.
• Raise Awareness and Education: Launch awareness campaigns to educate workers, employers, and the public about the health implications of climate change.
  • Provide training programs on heat stress management and preventive measures to bolster resilience in vulnerable sectors.

Conclusion

Amidst the challenges posed by climate change, safeguarding workplace safety and health emerges as a critical imperative. The ILO report highlights a pressing call for a globally accepted regulatory framework to fortify workplaces against climate-related risks and safeguard workers. Achieving this necessitates concerted action from governments, industries, and workers alike to address evolving hazards and uphold the well-being of workers amidst the changing climate landscape.