New report reveals widespread health risks, labor rights violations as climate crisis deepens
A new report published today by Climate Rights International has issued a stark warning: extreme heat driven by the escalating climate crisis is endangering the lives and livelihoods of thousands of workers across Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka. From garment factories to construction sites and city streets, laborers are collapsing, falling ill—and, in some cases, dying—while employers and the government fail to implement basic safeguards.
Titled “My Body Is Burning”: Extreme Heat and Labor Rights in Bangladesh, the report highlights how climate change is colliding with labor exploitation in one of the world’s most heat-exposed cities. Based on interviews with more than 50 workers from the garment, construction, and transport sectors, the report details a mounting public health and labor rights emergency.
Bangladesh bears the brunt of a crisis it didn’t cause
Despite contributing little to global greenhouse gas emissions, Bangladesh remains one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change. In 2025, Dhaka’s heat index surged to a staggering 48°C (118°F), prompting public health warnings. But for many of the city’s laborers, avoiding the heat isn’t an option.
“Bangladesh is being hit hard by extreme heat resulting from a climate emergency it did almost nothing to cause,” said Brad Adams, Executive Director of Climate Rights International. “This is climate injustice in its clearest form.”
Workers fainting, falling ill and losing wages
The report documents widespread heat-related illnesses, including dehydration, nausea, cramps, headaches, and even temporary vision loss. Several workers described fainting on the job, while others reported witnessing co-workers collapse or die.
Beyond the physical toll, extreme heat is disrupting productivity and earnings. Workers say they are forced to slow down or cut shifts short due to illness, leading to wage losses they cannot afford. Some reported having to extend their working hours by up to 50% just to complete daily tasks.
“The clothes we wear—including the ones on our backs right now—may have been sewn by someone who lost consciousness from the heat,” said Adams. “That reality should disturb us all.”
Labor abuses fuel the crisis
The report also reveals that abusive labor practices are compounding the crisis. Workers say they are routinely denied breaks, pressured into unpaid overtime, and scolded or threatened when trying to rest. Many lack access to clean drinking water and sanitation facilities, leading them to ration water intake—at significant risk to their health.
Fearing retaliation, most workers said they felt powerless to demand safer conditions. This silence, combined with systemic neglect, has left them dangerously exposed as temperatures rise.
Construction workers and app-based delivery riders face some of the most acute risks. Riders for foodpanda, a subsidiary of Delivery Hero, reported working long hours in punishing heat with inadequate compensation or safety support. Construction laborers described similar neglect—no shade, no water, no heat protocols.
Global brands named, but action falls short
Multinational companies sourcing from Bangladesh’s garment sector are also under fire. Workers interviewed said they produced garments for global brands such as H&M, VF Corporation (owner of The North Face, Vans, and Timberland), Walmart, and Primark—despite working under extreme heat with little relief.
Though some brands have adopted heat-related workplace policies, enforcement remains weak and insufficient, according to the report.
“Multinational brands continue to prioritize fast production and low prices,” the report states, “with little regard for the human cost on the ground.”
Government response inadequate
While Bangladesh has workplace safety laws on the books, enforcement remains poor. Informal workers—who make up roughly 85% of the national workforce—are largely excluded from any form of legal protection.
Climate Rights International is urging the government to adopt national heat safety standards for workplaces and to strictly enforce them. The group also calls on wealthier nations and historical emitters to deliver on promised climate adaptation financing under the Paris Agreement.
A moment for reform
This call comes at a pivotal moment. Following the Awami League’s ouster in August 2024, Bangladesh’s interim government has pledged reforms to improve worker protections. The Ministry of Labour is expected to ratify key International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions on occupational health, paving the way for long-overdue changes.
“With national elections looming and global temperatures rising, Bangladesh now has a rare opportunity to embed meaningful worker protections into law,” said Cara Schulte, the report’s lead author.
Time to act
The report ends with a plea for urgent, coordinated action. “Governments and businesses have a moral and legal obligation to protect workers from extreme heat,” Schulte said. “Employers, multinational brands, and the Bangladesh government must work together to create climate-resilient workplaces. The future of public health, worker dignity, and economic sustainability depends on it.”
In a rapidly warming world, the stakes are growing ever higher. Without immediate intervention, jobs already deemed dangerous could soon become deadly—and the question remains whether those with power will act before it’s too late.
