Gujarat government urged to introduce heat-stress safety rules for construction workers

By A Representative

A representation submitted to Gujarat Labour, Skill Development and Employment Minister Kunvarji Bavaliya has urged the state government to introduce legally enforceable safety standards to protect construction workers from extreme heat and heatwaves, and to launch a financial assistance scheme for labourers affected by climate-related health risks.

The memorandum, submitted by Vipul Pandya, General Secretary of a construction workers’ organisation, calls for specific provisions under the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code and the Gujarat Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Rules, 2025 to address heat stress faced by labourers working in outdoor conditions. It also proposes the introduction of a “Climate Change Survival Financial Assistance Scheme” under the Gujarat Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board.

The representation states that climate change has significantly increased the frequency and duration of heatwaves in Gujarat, creating serious health risks for workers employed in the construction sector. Labourers working at construction sites are often exposed to direct sunlight for long hours while performing heavy physical work, increasing their vulnerability to heat exhaustion, heatstroke, dehydration and kidney stress.

The memorandum notes that the design and materials used at construction sites further intensify heat exposure. Steel rods, iron plates and concrete structures absorb solar radiation and re-emit heat, increasing ambient temperatures around workers and worsening heat stress conditions.

Citing research conducted by the Indian Institute of Public Health Gandhinagar, the representation says studies have found that heat levels at construction sites frequently exceed safe limits and that many labourers experience symptoms such as dehydration, fatigue, dizziness and heat exhaustion during the summer months. It also refers to warnings by the International Labour Organization that heat stress is a serious occupational hazard for workers in sectors such as construction and that rising global temperatures are likely to worsen health and productivity risks.

The representation highlights the growing severity of heatwaves in Gujarat in recent years. According to the India Meteorological Department, temperatures in Ahmedabad remained between 44°C and 46°C for several consecutive days in May 2024. Temperatures of around 45.3°C were also recorded at Kandla airport, while districts such as Kutch, Banaskantha, Rajkot, Surat and Surendranagar experienced severe heatwave conditions. Forecasts indicate that temperatures in Ahmedabad could touch around 40°C during the first week of March 2026, signalling an early onset of extreme summer conditions.

The memorandum states that Gujarat currently has more than 2.5 million construction workers and that the sector continues to expand rapidly. In Ahmedabad alone, more than 700 construction sites are active, employing an estimated 250,000 workers, many of whom obtain daily work through labour gathering points known as “kadiya naka”. Around 70 per cent of the workforce consists of migrant tribal labourers who often lack awareness of their legal rights and depend on daily wages, forcing them to continue working even during extreme heat.

While the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health issues advisory guidelines during heatwaves, including suggestions to suspend work between 1 pm and 4 pm, the representation states that these advisories are rarely implemented because they are not legally binding. It notes that many construction sites continue operations during peak heat hours and often lack access to drinking water, shade or oral rehydration salts for workers.

The memorandum also points out that existing legal frameworks do not specifically address heat stress. Neither the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code nor Gujarat’s corresponding rules contain explicit provisions for heat stress management, while existing safety provisions under construction labour laws are considered too general to deal with rising climate-related risks.

Among its key demands, the representation calls on the state government to form an expert committee including representatives from institutions such as the Indian Institute of Public Health Gandhinagar, the National Institute of Occupational Health and the India Meteorological Department to recommend enforceable standards for heat-stress management at worksites.

It also proposes that heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke be recognised as occupational diseases, and that heat injuries be treated as compensable injuries under the Employees' Compensation Act. The representation further calls for financial assistance to workers who fall ill due to heat exposure and compensation for families of labourers who die from heatstroke.

In addition, the memorandum suggests creating a special inspection task force during summer months to ensure compliance with safety standards at construction sites and proposes penalties, including fines of up to ₹5 lakh and closure of worksites for violations. It also recommends provision of heat-appropriate personal protective equipment and insurance coverage for registered construction workers against heatwave-related risks.

The representation states that similar concerns had been submitted last year to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and other officials but no action has been taken so far.

Quoting the representation, Pandya said: “Climate change is intensifying heatwaves and construction workers are among the most vulnerable. Immediate policy and legal measures are necessary to protect their health, safety and livelihoods.”

The memorandum further argues that under Article 21 of the Constitution, the right to life includes the right to health and safe working conditions, and therefore the state has a responsibility to protect workers from life-threatening occupational risks such as extreme heat.

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