Protecting Gig Workers from Heatwaves: Assessing Impact and Coping Mechanism in Delhi

Climate change has intensified the frequency and severity of heatwaves in South Asia, posing severe public health and occupational risks for workers engaged in informal and outdoor labour. Among them, platform-based gig workers represent a rapidly expanding but highly vulnerable segment of the urban workforce. Despite their growing presence in cities like Delhi, these workers often fall outside the purview of conventional labour protections. This research examines the health impacts, earnings disruptions, and coping strategies employed by gig workers during heatwaves, utilising primary data from a mixed-methods study comprising a survey conducted with 390 workers during the 2024 heatwave period. The findings reveal prolonged work hours in extreme heat, a high incidence of heat-related symptoms, minimal employer-provided safeguards, and reliance on individual coping mechanisms such as altered work schedules and personal expenditure on protective gear. It concludes by situating the findings within broader global concerns on urban climate vulnerability, contributing to Sustainable Development Goals 3, 8, 10, and 13, and advocating for inclusive, equitable, and climate-adaptive planning.