Labour Ministry Issues Heatwave Advisory to Protect Workers

The Ministry of Labour and Employment has issued a nationwide advisory urging States and Union Territories to take immediate preventive measures to protect workers and labourers from rising temperatures and heatwave conditions.

The advisory calls for a coordinated multi-sectoral response to safeguard workers, especially those engaged in outdoor and labour-intensive jobs such as construction, mining and daily wage labour.

States and industries have been instructed to consider rescheduling working hours, ensuring access to drinking water, providing rest areas, and arranging cooling facilities at workplaces. Employers have also been advised to provide emergency heat protection materials, including ice packs and first-aid support.

Factories and mines have been asked to introduce flexible work arrangements, such as reduced work intensity during peak heat hours, deployment of two-person teams for continuous operations, and improved ventilation systems.

Special focus has been placed on construction workers, brick kiln workers and casual labourers. Authorities have been encouraged to run awareness campaigns in public labour hubs and display heat safety messages prominently.

The advisory also directs health institutions under the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation to set up dedicated help desks for heatstroke cases and maintain adequate stocks of ORS and medical supplies.

Enforcement agencies including the Chief Labour Commissioner and Directorate General of Mines Safety have been tasked with monitoring compliance with workplace safety norms.

The Ministry has asked all departments to submit fortnightly reports on implementation, stressing that timely action is essential to ensure worker safety, health and productivity during extreme summer conditions.