Heatwave effect: Labour Ministry issues advisory to states, UTs to take measures for workers

Amid soaring temperatures across the country, the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment has written to all states and Union territories (UTs) to take urgent steps to safeguard workers and labourers from extreme heatwave conditions.

The Ministry has issued a heat wave advisory to all chief Secretaries of states and UTs to take adequate measures. States and Union territories have been advised to issue directions to employers, occupiers, industries, and construction companies to implement effective heatwave mitigation measures for workers.

Guidelines on rest areas, timings
The Ministry has advised states to reschedule working hours to avoid peak heat times and ensure access to adequate drinking water to workers.

Among other measures, the Ministry has advised providing shaded rest areas and ventilation or cooling at worksites, conducting regular health check-ups, and supplying emergency ice packs and heat illness prevention materials.

The advisory has asked states/UTs to focus on workers in factories, construction sites, brick kilns, and mines. “Underground mines where proper ventilation and flexible work schedules are crucial. There should be adoption of slower work pace and two-person crews during extreme heat,” the Ministry said.

Heatwave awareness sessions
The Ministry has asked states/UTs and its other departments to conduct awareness sessions and training on recognising, preventing heat stress, and include heatwave-specific content in worker training modules.

Hospitals and dispensaries under Directorate General Labour Welfare (DGLW) and Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) have been instructed to set up dedicated desks for heat stroke cases and ensure availability of ORS, ice packs, and other necessary materials to handle heat-related illnesses.

Heatwaves in India occur mainly from March to June and in some cases, July. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) in a statement on Tuesday said that heat wave conditions are seen likely over central India and plains of northwest India till April 28 and east India till April 26.

According to IMD, a heatwave is declared when the “maximum temperature of a station reaches at least 40 degree celsius or more for plains and at least 30 degree celsius or more for hilly regions.”

Aanchal Magazine is Senior Assistant Editor with The Indian Express and reports on the macro economy and fiscal policy, with a special focus on economic science, labour trends, taxation and revenue metrics. With over 13 years of newsroom experience, she has also reported in detail on macroeconomic data such as trends and policy actions related to inflation, GDP growth and fiscal arithmetic. Interested in the history of her homeland, Kashmir, she likes to read about its culture and tradition in her spare time, along with trying to map the journeys of displacement from there.