New Delhi: With temperatures rising and heat waves intensifying across the country, the Ministry of Labor and Employment has directed all states and union territories to protect workers. The recommendation calls for urgent safety measures, especially for those in outdoor and physically demanding roles. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) also intervened, asking states to pre-emptively intervene to protect vulnerable populations from extreme heat.
On 27 April, maximum day temperatures ranged between 40 °C and 46 °C in most parts of the country, except for the Western Himalayan region, North East Bihar and parts of the Northeast where they remained below 36 °C. The highest temperature was 47.6 °C, recorded at Banda in eastern Uttar Pradesh.
Day temperatures were well above normal (more than 5°C higher) in many parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and East Madhya Pradesh, with isolated fluctuations in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Tamil Nadu. Day temperatures were noticeably above normal (3-5°C higher) over Haryana, Delhi, West Rajasthan and parts of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana and Coastal Andhra Pradesh.
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A coordinated approach
The Labor Department’s recommendation called on states and union territories to take a coordinated, multi-sectoral approach and order employers to implement immediate safety measures, such as rescheduling work hours and providing potable water. It also called for the establishment of cooling rooms, the provision of emergency ice packs and materials for the prevention of heat illness, and the implementation of regular health checks in coordination with state health authorities.
“Managements of factories and mines have been asked to allow flexibility in work schedules, including slowing the pace of work during peak hours and deploying additional workers where continuous operation is unavoidable, while ensuring proper ventilation and cooling,” the ministry said.
The advice places particular emphasis on protecting the most vulnerable – including construction and brick kiln workers, daily wage earners and casual labourers. To ensure that these groups are reached, states have been advised to conduct awareness campaigns in workplaces (chowks) and public spaces using posters and emergency response guidelines.
The ministry also said that organizations such as the Directorate General of Training and the National Council for Workers’ Education will conduct training and awareness programs on the risks of heat waves, safe work practices, early identification of heat stress symptoms and first aid measures.
Hospitals and pharmacies under the State Employees’ Insurance Company and the General Directorate of Social Welfare have been ordered to establish specialized assistance services for heatstroke patients and to maintain sufficient stocks of oral rehydration solution, ice packs and related materials.
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Enforcement agencies, including the Chief Labor Commissioner and the Directorate General of Mine Safety, were tasked with monitoring compliance with safety standards regarding working conditions, potable water, ventilation and regular health inspections. EPFO and National Career Service Centers have also been instructed to ensure proper cooling and arrangement of drinking water during camps and field activities.
The Labor Department also asked states and its affiliates for fortnightly reports on the status of steps taken, stressing that early preventive measures and close monitoring would be essential to protect workers during the peak summer months.
Suchita Dutta, Executive Director, Indian Staffing Federation (ISF), said: “As the apex body for the flexi-employment industry, ISF considers these measures, including flexible working hours, better ventilation and specialized medical assistance services, to be essential pillars for maintaining industrial productivity while ensuring worker safety. By prioritizing worker health, the ministry is not only protecting lives but also ensuring the long-term resilience of the Indian economy,” added Dutta.
NHRC’s plea
Separately, in its communication to the chief secretaries of 21 states and Delhi, the NHRC highlighted the increasing frequency, duration and intensity of heat waves and their disproportionate impact on marginalized and economically weaker sections, outdoor workers and the homeless. She noted that the elderly, children and infants are particularly vulnerable, with extreme heat also increasing the risk of loss of livelihoods and fires.
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Citing data from the National Crime Records Bureau, the commission said that between 2019 and 2023, 3,712 heat or heat stroke deaths were reported across the country. She urged states to ensure effective implementation of relief measures in line with existing standard operating procedures and guidelines issued by the National Disaster Management Authority to minimize loss of life.
