New Delhi, April 28: The Ministry of Labour & Employment has issued a nationwide advisory directing States and Union Territories to take urgent measures to safeguard workers from intensifying heatwave conditions.
In a communication sent to Chief Secretaries and administrators, the Ministry called for a coordinated and multi-sectoral response, particularly focusing on workers engaged in outdoor and labour-intensive sectors.
Flexible work hours, safety measures advised
States have been asked to instruct employers, industries and construction firms to implement immediate protective measures. These include rescheduling working hours to avoid peak heat periods, ensuring access to drinking water, and creating shaded rest areas with cooling arrangements.
The advisory also recommends provision of emergency supplies such as ice packs and heat illness prevention materials, especially at construction sites and other high-risk workplaces.
Factory and mine operators have been advised to adopt flexible work practices, including slowing the pace of work during extreme heat, deploying additional workers for physically demanding tasks, and improving ventilation systems.
Focus on vulnerable workers
Special attention has been urged for vulnerable groups such as construction workers, brick kiln labourers, daily wage earners and casual workers.
Authorities have also been asked to run awareness campaigns at labour hubs and public places, using posters and outreach activities to spread information on heatwave safety and emergency response.
Training and healthcare preparedness
The Directorate General of Training and the National Board for Workers’ Education and Development have been tasked with organising training programmes on heatwave mitigation. These will cover early identification of heat stress symptoms, safe work practices such as hydration and rest breaks, and first-aid responses.
Healthcare facilities operated by the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation and the Directorate General of Labour Welfare have been directed to set up dedicated help desks for heatstroke cases and ensure adequate stocks of oral rehydration salts (ORS) and other essential supplies.
Monitoring and compliance
Enforcement bodies including the Chief Labour Commissioner and the Directorate General of Mines Safety have been asked to ensure compliance with workplace safety norms, including provisions related to drinking water, ventilation and periodic health check-ups.
Additionally, the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation and National Career Service have been instructed to maintain adequate cooling and water facilities during their outreach activities.
States and concerned agencies will be required to submit fortnightly reports on measures taken.
Emphasis on preventive action
The Ministry underscored that timely intervention and close monitoring are critical to protecting worker health and maintaining productivity during the summer months, as large parts of the country experience rising temperatures and heatwave conditions.
