#BeatTheHeat: India’s SEWA launches heat wave insurance for women workers in informal sector

In a pioneering move, the Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA), affiliated with the Building and Wood Workers' International (BWI), has unveiled an innovative "Heat Wave Insurance System" designed to combat the devastating effects of extreme heat on women workers in the informal sector. This initiative addresses the disproportionate vulnerability of these women due to the global climate crisis and their lack of access to social security.

SEWA's innovative insurance system provides critical support to its members, helping them cope with extreme heat and building resilience against its impacts. By offering the said insurance, SEWA ensures that women workers no longer have to choose between protecting their health, purchasing medicines, feeding their families, or maintaining financial security. 

This inclusive approach guarantees that the benefits of climate adaptation reach the most vulnerable workers, promoting equity and social justice and exemplifying a key pathway to a just transition towards a sustainable future.

This year, SEWA launched a pilot insurance program covering 52,000 members from various trades across India’s 22 districts. Remarkably, more than 46,000 members, or approximately 88 percent, benefited from the initiative.