Workers in major garment manufacturing hubs such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Vietnam face increasing risks from extreme heat as climate change drives up temperatures, a report revealed on Sunday. This escalating issue calls for intervention from multinational brands and retailers.
New European Union regulations now hold retailers like Inditex, H&M, and Nike legally accountable for working conditions at their suppliers, pushing them to fund improvements to mitigate heat in factories.
Rising Heat Risk in Key Cities
Research by Cornell University’s Global Labor Institute showed a 42% rise in the number of days with “wet-bulb” temperatures exceeding 30.5°C in cities like Dhaka, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh, and Karachi between 2020-2024 compared to 2005-2009. Wet-bulb temperature combines heat and humidity, and the International Labor Organization (ILO) recommends equal rest and work time above this threshold to prevent heat-related health risks.
Limited Corporate Action
Among global brands, only Nike, Levi’s, and VF Corp currently include protocols in their supplier codes of conduct to safeguard workers from heat stress.
“We’ve been discussing this issue with brands for years, and they’re only now starting to pay attention,” said Jason Judd, executive director at Cornell University’s Global Labor Institute. He emphasized that under the EU’s new Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, which takes effect for large companies from mid-2027, brands are obligated to address excessive heat in production areas.
Solutions and Responsibilities
Cooling solutions for factories could include improved ventilation and water-based evaporative cooling systems, which are more sustainable than energy-intensive air conditioning. While some factory owners may be willing to invest due to the productivity impact of heat stress, the EU’s rules also underscore the responsibility of brands to contribute.
The report urged brands to not only improve factory conditions but also invest in higher wages and health protections, enabling workers to cope with lost income from heat-induced absenteeism.
Economic and Industry Impact
Extreme heat and flooding could cost garment-producing nations like Bangladesh, Cambodia, Pakistan, and Vietnam $65 billion in lost apparel export earnings by 2030, according to earlier research by Schroders and the Global Labor Institute.
Efforts to tackle these challenges are essential not only for workers’ safety but also for the long-term sustainability of the global apparel supply chain.
