Key facts
- Textile factory workers in Surat, India, are enduring extreme heat and humidity amplified by machinery.
- Cooling systems like fans and evaporative coolers provide only partial relief.
- Workers report symptoms such as dizziness and weakness due to the heat.
- Financial pressures on factory owners, including U.S. tariffs and supply chain issues, limit investment in better cooling.
- Millions of Indian workers are impacted by heat annually, with potential for life-threatening conditions.
- Labor unions are pushing for stronger heat protection laws and enforcement.
Workers at textile factories on the outskirts of Surat, India, are struggling with oppressive heat and humidity, exacerbated by the machinery used in production and the effects of climate change. Machines like stenters, boilers, and drum washers generate significant heat and steam, creating difficult working conditions.
While some factories have installed exhaust fans and water-evaporating coolers, these systems offer limited relief, especially on hotter days. Workers like Soni Pande and Kundan Kumar report feeling weak, dizzy, and unwell due to the high temperatures. The effectiveness of cooling systems is further limited by the open nature of many factories, making traditional air conditioning impractical.
Climate change is contributing to rising temperatures and longer summers in India, a country highly vulnerable to extreme weather. A World Bank report estimates that 75% of India's workforce, approximately 380 million people, are affected by heat, facing potentially life-threatening conditions. Labor unions have called for stricter government regulations and better oversight to protect workers.
An additional challenge is that many labor laws do not extend to the country's large informal workforce, which includes many textile workers. Pooja Yadav of WRI India highlighted that the combination of heat and humidity, along with chemical fumes in textile processing units, can lead to headaches, dehydration, fainting, and long-term health issues, while also reducing worker efficiency.
Factory owners are reportedly less willing or able to invest in costly cooling systems due to financial pressures, including losses attributed to U.S. tariffs and supply chain disruptions stemming from geopolitical events like the Iran war.