Too hot to work: How global warming is affecting agricultural workers in Europe

In August, temperatures in Europe soared and temperatures globally broke heat records for the second consecutive year. Climate scientists say that the sweltering heat temperatures are likely to make 2024 the hottest year on record.

Extreme heat is leading to more workplace injuries and fatalities in the European Union, with deaths rising faster than anywhere else, according to data the European Trade Union Conference (ETUC) released earlier this year.

Citing estimates from the International Labour Organization (ILO), ETUC reported that 80,800 people suffered injuries related to heat exposure at work in 2020 and 67 people died due to working in extreme heat.

The EU has seen a 42 percent increase in heat-related deaths since 2000.

Outdoor workers face the greatest risks due to prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures.

On August 16, Dalvir Singh, a 54-year-old flower picker in Latina, central Italy, died from suspected exposure to extreme heat and a heavy workload. Singh, a migrant worker from Punjab, India, had reportedly hoped to retire in a few years, as the grueling working conditions were taking a toll on his body and health.

“Extreme heat can make it unbearable to work. Some workers pay for it with their lives,” Ivan Ivanov, Political Secretary for Agriculture at the European Federation of Food, Agriculture and Tourism Trade Union (EFFAT) told InfoMigrants.

Migrant workers more likely to feel the heat

While workers across various sectors are feeling the effect of increased temperatures brought by climate-induced changes, migrant agricultural workers are among those who face the most risk.

“Migrant workers are forced to work for as much as 14-16 hours a day in the heat without proper breaks or rehydration because employers don’t have occupational health and safety regulations in place or because their wages are tied to the kilos of fruits and vegetables that they can harvest,” said Ivanov.

Tough weather conditions are further compounded by other risks tied to migrant work such as labor exploitation, trafficking, and work permit or visa issues. Language barriers add to the difficulty of negotiating work place safety or asking for help.

Also read: In Italy, 10,000 migrant farmworkers live in ‘informal settlements’

“In these conditions, you cannot expect workers to assert their rights or stand up against their employers. They don’t have a choice,” said Ivanov.

In some instances where workers are recruited through sub-contracting or middle men known as “labor intermediaries”, the lines of accountability are blurred.

Impact on health

According to Asya Dimitrova, a postdoctoral researcher at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), climate change is leading to higher daily temperatures as well as more severe and frequent heatwaves. Outdoor workers such as those employed in agriculture or construction are expected to disproportionately feel the brunt of these heatwaves and possibly experience heat stress

“Outdoor workers tend to engage in high-intensity work activities for long periods under hot-humid climatic conditions and they might be required to wear protective clothing that constricts sweat evaporation and further exacerbates heat stress,” Dimitrova told InfoMigrants.

The World Health Organization (WHO) states that vulnerability to heat-related injury or death is influenced by age, health status, and exposure factors such as occupation.

“Heat stress can have an immediate impact on outdoor workers, causing illnesses such as heat exhaustion, heatstroke, and, in severe cases, death,” said Dimitrova.

Also read: Italy: Calls for greater protection against migrant worker exploitation

Heat stress: the invisible killer

Trade unions such as EFFAT are calling for better regulations to protect workers and more stringent enforcement by authorities. Some unions such as the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) are reportedly proposing that heat stress be integrated into collective bargaining agreements. 

In a report entitled, “Heat at Work”, released in July, the International Labor Organization referred to heat stress as the “invisible killer” and called for the immediate need to strengthen heat stress prevention strategies, integrate occupational safety and health (OSH) into public health plans, and ensure protection for workers in all excessive heat conditions.