Rising temperatures are no longer just an environmental concern — they are becoming a direct threat to livelihoods, economic stability, and the future of work across South Asia. The International Labour Organization (ILO) has issued a stark warning that escalating workplace heat stress could cost Sri Lanka and the Maldives a combined 147,000 jobs by 2040, with consequences that could ripple across entire industries and communities if urgent action is not taken.
What the ILO Report Reveals
According to newly published studies by the ILO, the economic and employment consequences of heat stress are already being felt across both nations — and the situation is set to worsen dramatically in the coming decades. Even under a low-emissions scenario, where global efforts to reduce carbon output remain relatively on track, the projected job losses by 2040 remain alarmingly high. Under higher-emissions pathways, the damage could be far more severe, potentially threatening the economic foundations of entire sectors.
The ILO defines heat stress as the combination of heat and humidity that exceeds the body's ability to regulate its internal temperature. When workers are exposed to excessive heat — particularly those in outdoor or physically demanding roles — their productivity drops, their health deteriorates, and in extreme cases, the risk of fatal illness rises significantly. This is not a distant future problem. It is happening now, in fields, on construction sites, and in factories across Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
Which Sectors Are Most at Risk
The industries most vulnerable to heat stress are those that rely on outdoor labor or operate in poorly ventilated environments. In Sri Lanka, agriculture stands out as the most exposed sector. Tea plantations, rice paddies, and vegetable farms employ hundreds of thousands of workers who spend long hours under the sun with limited access to shade, cooling facilities, or adequate hydration. As temperatures continue to climb, the number of safe working hours during peak heat periods will shrink, directly cutting into output and income.
Construction is another heavily affected sector, with laborers often working through the hottest parts of the day with minimal protection. Tourism-related services, fishing, and informal street trade are also identified as high-risk areas. In the Maldives, where the economy is deeply tied to tourism and marine industries, the threat extends beyond worker health to the very attractiveness of the destination itself. Extreme heat can deter visitors, reduce outdoor activity, and strain hospitality workers who operate in high-temperature environments.
The Human Cost Behind the Numbers
Behind every projected job loss is a real person — a farmer, a construction worker, a fisherman — whose ability to earn a living is being compromised by forces largely outside their control. The ILO's findings highlight that it is the most vulnerable workers who bear the heaviest burden. Low-income laborers, women working in agriculture, and migrant workers often lack access to occupational health protections, adequate rest periods, or the financial cushion to absorb income losses caused by reduced working hours.
Heat-related illness also drives up healthcare costs for families and governments alike. Workers who fall ill lose wages, and in countries where social protection systems are limited, a single health crisis can push a household into poverty. The compounding effect of lost productivity, medical expenses, and reduced economic participation creates a cycle that is difficult to break without deliberate policy intervention.
What Governments and Employers Must Do
The ILO is calling on governments, employers, and international partners to treat heat stress as a serious occupational health and safety issue — not a seasonal inconvenience. Key recommendations include establishing clear legal standards for heat exposure in the workplace, ensuring access to shade, water, and rest breaks during extreme heat periods, and developing early warning systems that allow workers and employers to plan around dangerous temperature spikes.
Longer-term solutions involve investing in climate-resilient infrastructure, shifting work schedules to cooler parts of the day, and providing training to help workers and supervisors recognize the signs of heat-related illness before they become life-threatening. Social protection programs must also be strengthened to support workers who lose income during periods when outdoor labor becomes unsafe.
A Wake-Up Call for the Region
The ILO's warning about Sri Lanka and the Maldives is part of a broader global picture in which climate change is increasingly recognized as a labor and economic crisis, not just an environmental one. South Asia is among the most heat-vulnerable regions on earth, and without coordinated action, the human and economic costs will only grow.
With 147,000 jobs potentially lost by 2040, the window for preventive action is narrowing. Policymakers, businesses, and communities must move quickly — because in a warming world, protecting workers is not just a moral obligation. It is an economic necessity.