India’s garment workers are facing a severe health crisis as extreme heat waves sweep across the country. A recent study highlights the dangerous working conditions, particularly for women, who comprise the majority of the industry’s workforce.

“Boiling for Profits”

Garment workers describe working conditions during the April-May heat season as “hellish,” with temperatures frequently exceeding 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit). Aruvi, a 39-year-old worker from Dindigul, Tamil Nadu, who requested a pseudonym, explained the challenges. “They always say, ‘Look at the farmers working in the sun. Your life is better…be grateful,’” she said. “But is our life really better? We also suffer.”

Research Findings on Heat Stress

A study conducted by HeatWatch and the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) surveyed 115 garment workers in Tamil Nadu and Delhi’s National Capital Region. The research uncovered a growing crisis of heat stress among workers.

Key Findings from the Study:

  • 36.5% reported water was often unavailable or unclean.
  • 78.3% found it difficult to get permission for bathroom breaks.
  • 78.3% reported poor ventilation at their workstations.
  • 69% said the heat affected their work.
  • 87% experienced heat-related ailments like headaches and dizziness.
  • 87.8% felt drained by the end of the workday during summer.

Infrastructure and Policy Gaps

S. Rahul, assistant professor at TISS’s School of Management and Labour Studies, pointed to infrastructure gaps as a major issue. Many factories, particularly older ones, lack adequate climate control and have roofs made of heat-absorbing materials like metal or asbestos. Policies prioritizing product integrity over worker comfort, such as restrictions on water bottles, also contribute to the problem.

The Impact of Low Wages

Rahul emphasized that low wages exacerbate the issue. “If your wage is so precarious, then you would push yourself to work more, work faster and take fewer breaks,” he stated. Workers often cannot afford healthcare or time off when sick.

Gendered Impacts of Heat Stress

The study revealed significant gender disparities. Over 70% of India’s 45 million garment and textile workers are women. Female workers reported higher rates of dehydration symptoms, including burning sensations during urination (97%) and abnormal urine color (45%). They also experienced vaginal yeast infections (94%) and menstrual disruptions (92%).

Vasundhara Jhobta, a project associate at HeatWatch, noted that women often face restrictions on movement during breaks and lack access to adequate restroom facilities.

Brand Responsibility and Potential Solutions

Researchers deliberately withheld supplier and brand names to protect workers from potential retaliation. Rahul argues that brands must share the responsibility for managing heat stress by investing in their suppliers. Currently, few brands recognize heat stress as a priority, with only Adidas, Levi Strauss & Co., Nike, and Next providing detailed guidance to suppliers.

The European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive aims to address heat-related harm, but recent changes have reduced the number of affected businesses. Experts suggest implementing policies like Qatar’s, which allows workers to remove themselves from dangerous heat conditions, and incorporating “self-pacing” into work schedules.

Neha, a 36-year-old single mother and sewing machine operator, described the relentless physical and mental toll of working in extreme heat. “If brands really cared, they could change everything,” she said. “We’re not asking for luxuries—just dignity and a decent wage.”