Brijpal Singh, a 51-year-old construction worker in Noida, India’s National Capital Region, endures long shifts under temperatures exceeding 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit). Despite feeling dizzy, dehydrated, and physically drained, Singh continues working to avoid losing his daily wage of 500 to 600 rupees ($6 to $7, €5.20 to €6.10), which supports his wife and three children living two days away in Uttar Pradesh.

In the Delhi region, approximately 5 million people, or 80% of the workforce, are employed in the informal economy. Ameena Kidwai, lead researcher at People's Courage International, a nonprofit advocating for informal workers' rights, noted that wage losses are expected to worsen as temperatures rise. She added that some workers report tasks that previously took eight hours now require 10 to 12 hours during the hottest months as they slow down to cope with hazardous conditions.

Many informal workers, like Singh, are migrants who leave their families behind to earn a living in fast-growing cities. Patricia Samantha Narvaez, program manager at the Philippine development organization IDEALS, said some participants described Quezon City as a "concrete jungle" where even nighttime temperatures remain unbearably hot.

The health impacts extend beyond the workday, with workers incurring higher costs for over-the-counter medicines and medical visits. Singh expressed the dilemma faced by many: "But if I miss a day, who will take care of my children and pay for their expenses?" He also admitted, "There are days when I don't feel like working," highlighting the toll extreme heat takes on informal workers.

As urban temperatures continue to climb, informal workers in Asia confront a difficult choice between risking their health or losing vital income.

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