Amazon India Workers Association urges government action amid record-breaking heatwaves

Rajendra Acharya, Regional Secretary of UNI Global Union in Asia Pacific, added: “The conditions faced by Amazon warehouse workers in India are unacceptable. We demand that Amazon and other employers take immediate action to ensure the safety and well-being of their workers. This situation underscores the urgent need for comprehensive labour protections and the enforcement of existing laws to safeguard workers from extreme heat.”

AIWA Convener Dharmendra Kumar emphasized the unprecedented heatwave impacts: “India is experiencing its hottest year on record. The disaster authorities must declare this a disaster and take immediate and long-term measures to protect workers’ health and livelihoods.”

Kamal Kumar Niyogi, Legal Advisor to AIWA, referenced the Factories Act of 1948 stating employers are required to provide adequate seating for workers who must stand for long periods.

In light of these severe conditions, it is important to recognize that climate change is a significant factor contributing to increasing frequency and intensity of such heatwaves. Scientists have warned that without significant global efforts to mitigate climate change, extreme weather events including heatwaves will become more common and severe. This trend underscores the urgent need for both immediate action to protect workers and long-term strategies to address root causes of climate change.

AIWA’s demands include:

- The Ministry of Labour and Employment should urge NDMA to declare heatwaves as disasters.

- Amazon and other platform employers should provide a heat surcharge during extreme heat periods.

- Implement a moratorium on card block during heatwaves.

- Ensure access to shade, drinking water, and toilets for all platform workers.

- Provide special training on heatstroke prevention along with advisory regular weather alerts.

- Supply protective gear such as UV-protected shirts, sunglasses, sunscreen, ORS free of cost.

- Establish an emergency helpline for workers affected by heatstroke with an app option for reporting.

- Compensate workers affected by heatstroke based on average daily earnings or minimum wage whichever is higher.

- Maintain adequate temperatures across all warehouse locations.