Scorching temperatures threaten health and earnings of India's informal labor force

In Noida, a construction worker named Brijpal Singh spends long hours on sites where temperatures regularly top 45 °C, leaving him dizzy, dehydrated and exhausted, but a day off would mean forfeiting his modest daily wage that supports his family in Uttar Pradesh. Studies link the decade’s record heat to a drop in output and a rise in illnesses, estimating a loss equivalent to roughly 2 % of India’s GDP, or about $80 billion annually.

Ameena Kidwai of People’s Courage International notes that informal laborers now need extra hours to finish the same tasks, while health problems ranging from kidney disease to strokes increase medical expenses. Patricia Samantha Narvaez of IDEALS highlights that many workers return to cramped, poorly ventilated homes that become “furnaces” at night, worsening nutrition and rest. Women such as Shanti Devi bear a double load, caring for children during school closures and shouldering most household duties, which amplifies their vulnerability to heat-related health issues. Although heat-action plans exist in some cities, protections for informal workers remain patchy, leaving the poorest exposed as climate change intensifies.