Video: Too hot to work? Heat up workers' rights!

 
 
Outdoor workers stand at the forefront of climate change, enduring relentless heat as they labuor in fields, construction sites, and industrial zones. These individuals are the backbone of many industries, yet they often face hazardous conditions that threaten their health and productivity. Without urgent and meaningful action to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5°C, the extreme heat they face daily will become increasingly unbearable. Governments and industries must recognise that these struggles are not simply a seasonal concern but a long-term, escalating challenge that demands comprehensive protection and climate-resilient policies.


To mitigate the devastating impact of extreme heat, workers and governments must implement enforceable protections, including shaded rest areas, mandatory cooling breaks, and access to drinking water. Additionally, as rising temperatures inevitably lead to work stoppages, it is essential to establish fair compensation policies. This would ensure that workers are not forced to choose between their health and their livelihood. Compensation for heat-related work stoppages should be seen not as a burden, but as an investment in a safer, more sustainable workforce that prioritizes workers’ well-being amid increasingly volatile climate conditions.


If we fail to take decisive steps now, the lives of millions of outdoor workers will continue to deteriorate, with the impacts of extreme heat compounding issues of poverty and inequality. Governments, trade unions, and climate advocates must unite to address this critical intersection of labour and climate justice. The path forward demands that we secure protections, enact meaningful climate policy, and honor the rights of those most exposed to the climate crisis’s severe and life-threatening realities.