Gig workers struggle to stay afloat amid soaring temperatures
Gig workers in Delhi are facing health risks and reduced earnings due to intense heatwaves during peak summer. Despite a heatwave advisory from the Centre, many workers continue to struggle with inadequate protective measures. Falling sick or cutting work hours to cope with heat has led to significant drops in daily income.
- ▪Gig workers in Delhi report lower earnings on hot days due to reduced work hours and pauses for cooling down.
- ▪A delivery executive said daily earnings dropped from ₹1,000-1,200 to ₹200-300 during extreme heat.
- ▪The Centre issued a heatwave advisory urging mitigation measures for workers and laborers.
- ▪Many gig workers lack adequate protection despite rising health risks from prolonged heat exposure.
- ▪Some workers took up gig jobs after losing previous employment, increasing their financial vulnerability.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
As peak summer sets in, gig workers across platforms in Delhi said they are caught in a cycle of falling sick or facing reduced earnings when they pause work during intense heatwave days.Even as the Centre issued a heatwave advisory this week for organisations and States to adopt mitigation measures for workers and labourers, gig workers point to persistent challenges. A 20-year-old delivery executive, who took up the gig a month ago after losing a clerical position in a private office, said, “On a normal day, earnings go up to ₹1,000-1,200. But on extremely hot days, when we have to reduce the number of orders and keep pausing to cool down under shade, earnings drop to ₹200-300.”
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at News Today: Breaking News, Top Headlines & Live Updates | The Hindu.
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