ILO: Heat wave will increase job losses

While record temperatures with the impact of climate change affect all segments of society, 870 million people who work in the agricultural sector are at risk of further “heat stress”…

If the temperature exceeds 25 degrees, the functions of the human body begin to be affected. Higher temperatures risk serious health effects for workers, the elderly, pregnant women, and people with disabilities.

The global average temperature broke the record three times in a row last week. The World Meteorological Organization announced that, according to pioneering data, last week was the hottest on record and temperature records could continue with the effect of El Niño.

The Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, affirmed that climate change is “out of control” after the temperature records and affirmed that more and more fair actions must be taken to prevent climate change.

The extreme heat, which has been felt in different parts of the world in recent days, especially in China, India and the US, affects human health as well as reduces employee productivity.

BUSINESS PRODUCTIVITY LOSS COULD INCREASE 57 PERCENT BY 2030

According to data from the International Labor Organization (ILO), the loss of labor productivity due to heat stress in the world is expected to increase from 1.4 percent in 1995 to 2.2 percent in 2030. This rate means that labor loss due to extreme heat will increase by 57 percent in 35 years.

Catherine Saget, Head of the ILO Research Division, told Anadolu Agency (AA) that extreme heat reduces employee productivity and forces people to work more slowly.

Stating that those who work in open areas such as waste management, tourism and sports, especially agriculture and construction, are affected by extreme heat, Saget said: “Workers in the agricultural and construction sector are particularly affected by extreme heat. As of 2021, total employment in the world is 3.2 billion. The agricultural sector represents 870 million of this employment”. saying.

Saget stated that people who work in the agricultural sector are exposed to extreme heat in some months or weeks of the year, “Likewise, workers in the construction sector are more affected by heat stress. Workers in the construction industry account for 10 to 15 percent of employment in many countries. That is, at least one in 10 workers in a country is in the construction industry and that is a very high rate.” he said.

IT HAS MANY EFFECTS ON HEALTH

Stating that in the absence of proper ventilation, indoor workers can experience lost productivity due to extreme temperatures, Saget said:

“Heat stress can have many effects on human health. Heat stress can lead to fatigue, exhaustion, decreased concentration, chronic kidney disease, heat stroke, and sometimes fatal consequences. In addition, heat stress can present other risks in some groups of employees. For example, while those who work in the agricultural sector are at increased risk of heat stress, they are also at risk of increased exposure to pesticides that can be harmful to their health.”

Stating that businesses are also negatively affected by the consequences of heat stress because people are unable to function as usual or become ill due to heat, Saget said: “Loss of productivity in the workforce slows down the economic activities of businesses and threatens economic development. ”He made the assessment of him.

‘GOVERNMENTS HAVE A BIG ROLE’

Catherine Saget said that many steps can be taken to protect employees from the effects of heat stress and that employees can be trained to recognize the symptoms of heat stress.

Noting that data studies aimed at gradually adapting to higher temperature levels also have fruitful results, Saget said: “Employers who are responsible for providing a safe and healthy work environment should provide opportunities such as access to water and periods of rest. It is also possible to adapt work schedules to avoid the hottest hours”. saying.

Emphasizing that governments also play an important role in this matter, Saget said:

“Governments must inform workers and the public about current and expected temperatures and the risks associated with heat stress, and ensure that workers who are victims of heat stress have access to free and affordable health care. In addition, a comprehensive policy to prevent heat stress must be established by first assessing the risks to which workers are exposed in different sectors and regions of the country. More careful urban planning to develop cities that are better adapted to high temperature levels can also play an important role in reducing heat stress in workers.”

HIGHEST EMPLOYMENT IN AGRICULTURE IN ASIA AND SUB-SAFRICA

According to data from the peer-reviewed medical journal The Lancet, 470 billion work hours were lost in 2021 due to extreme heat. Although this figure increased by 37 percent compared to the annual average for the period 1990-1999, the loss of labor per capita was 139 hours.

Two-thirds of all job losses in this period were seen in the agricultural sector alone. Most of the losses in the agricultural sector were recorded in countries with less human development.

According to ILO data, 273.4 million are from South Asia, 213.8 million from Sub-Saharan Africa and 194.6 million are East Asian regions, of the 870 million jobs in the agricultural sector in the world as of 2021.

95.4 million people work in agriculture in the Southeast Asia and Pacific region, 40.6 million people in Latin America and the Caribbean, and 15.6 million people in North Africa.

While 14 million people in Central and Western Asia, 11.1 million people in Eastern Europe, 6.4 million people in Northern, Southern and Western Europe and 5.2 million people in Arab countries work In the agricultural sector, 2.9 million people work in this sector in North America. . Millions of people are employed.

By country, the largest employment in the agricultural sector is found in India with 206 million and China with 183.5 million. (AA)