The searing heat in Hyderabad has had a severe impact on gig workers, with numerous cases of heat stroke and heat exhaustion being reported over the past month. Delivery executives and cab drivers, who are exposed to extreme temperatures during peak hours, are particularly vulnerable.
At least five incidents of gig workers fainting in public places due to heat exhaustion have been recorded in the city. One notable case involved a cab driver who fainted after dropping off a passenger at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) in Shamshabad. While searching for a shaded parking spot in the sun-drenched, tiled parking lot devoid of trees, he collapsed. “I had to wait there for four hours in the sun, which made me sick. I was fine before I went there,” the cab driver explained. Fellow drivers promptly took him to a hospital, where he was treated for heat exhaustion.
In another incident, a delivery man fainted while climbing the stairs of a building to deliver food. Similarly, another delivery boy collapsed while waiting outside a restaurant to pick up an order. These cases highlight the harsh conditions gig workers face as they perform their duties under extreme weather conditions.
Hospitals across Hyderabad have reported a surge in the number of gig and construction workers seeking medical attention for heat-related illnesses. Emergency rooms have been inundated with cases presenting symptoms such as extreme weakness, dizziness, vomiting, and headaches. “We have been seeing more cases of delivery boys during peak hours for the past one and a half months,” noted a consultant physician.
A doctor from a well-known hospital revealed that about two to three cases of heat exhaustion, accompanied by low blood pressure, low pulse, and seizures, are reported weekly. The situation is exacerbated by the fact that many companies mandate their delivery executives to log in during lunchtime, ensuring an adequate workforce during peak hours, which coincides with the hottest part of the day.
This crisis underscores the urgent need for better working conditions and health safeguards for gig workers. Employers must consider adjusting work schedules, providing shaded rest areas, and ensuring access to adequate hydration to protect their workforce from the adverse effects of extreme heat.
The plight of these workers calls for immediate action from both employers and municipal authorities. Measures such as increasing public awareness about the dangers of heat-related illnesses and implementing policies that prioritise worker safety can significantly mitigate the health risks associated with extreme weather. As temperatures continue to rise, safeguarding the health and well-being of gig workers becomes an imperative that cannot be overlooked.
