India’s new labour codes, under which the government framed rules for implementation in May this year, do not once mention climate change. This is even as the past 11 years have been the warmest on record, and extreme weather events are becoming more frequent.
Experts say this blindspot leads to a lack of protections for workers. While one labour code does include guidelines for workplaces to tackle climate risks, definitions and minimum thresholds mean the majority of Indian workers in small firms and informal work are excluded from protection.
