‘Urgent action’ needed to protect workers from heat stress in warming world, UN says
News Mania Desk / Piyal Chatterjee / 23rd August 2025
The United Nations said on Friday that governments and companies need to act quickly to assist safeguard the health of workers who are being exposed to excessive heat more often.
The agencies stated in what they called a “much needed” substantial update of a study and recommendations last released in 1969 that heatwaves are becoming more often and intense due to climate change, and that workers around the world are already feeling the health effects.
Every degree above 20°C reduces worker productivity by 2-3%, according to the paper, and half of the world’s population is already negatively impacted by high temperatures.
According to the World Health Organization and the World Meteorological Association, the health hazards include heatstroke, dehydration, kidney malfunction, and neurological diseases.
They stated that vulnerable groups like children and older adults in underdeveloped nations, as well as manual laborers in industries like construction, agriculture, and fishing, were especially at danger. The agencies responded by calling for industry-specific and region-specific heat action plans that were created in collaboration with public health specialists, companies, unions, and employees.
For instance, unions in certain nations have advocated for the maximum permitted working temperature, which the agencies stated was a possibility but would probably vary globally according on the situation.Because heat stress is frequently misdiagnosed, they also recommended for improved training for first responders and medical professionals.
The International Labour Organization recently found that more than 2.4 billion workers are exposed to excessive heat globally, resulting in more than 22.85 million occupational injuries each year.
“No-one should have to risk kidney failure or collapse just to earn a living,” said Rüdiger Krech, director ad interim for environment, climate change and health at the WHO, at a press conference ahead of the report’s release.
