The report, ‘My Body Is Burning”: Climate Change, Extreme Heat, and Labor Rights in Bangladesh,‘ was compiled through interviews with 54 workers from what it calls “three of the most heat-exposed industries” in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
The three industries are garment, construction, and transportation.
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All the interviewees recounted adverse health effects from excessive heat exposure, including dehydration, profuse sweating, chest pain, nausea, heart palpitations, and temporary vision loss.
In May 2025, the capital city of Dhaka grappled with extreme heat, with temperatures reaching 40°C (104°F) and humidity levels climbing above 91%.
Workers were allegedly forced to continue working through scorching temperatures, leading to a state of confusion and distress, according to CRI.
This led to a tangible dip in productivity with workers operating at a reduced pace and requiring significantly more time to complete tasks during the hotter months.
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By GlobalDataAarit, a garment worker from Mirpur stated: “Extreme heat directly affects my work capacity. Generally, I can iron 60 pieces [per hour], but it goes down to 50 during [the] hottest day.”
The research also delved into labour rights violations that hinder workers’ ability to adapt to the climbing temperatures.
CRI documents a series of abuses such as insufficient wages, inconsistent pay checks, compulsory unpaid overtime, inadequate breaks, verbal abuse, limited access to restrooms and potable water, lack of proper training regarding heat safety, denial of medical leave, child labour practices, and obstacles to forming unions.
The research claims these violations leave workers with limited means to shield themselves from extreme heat, thereby increasing their health and safety risks.
CRI adds that despite full-time employment many of the workers that were interviewed are living in poverty.
Some earn less than the sector’s national monthly minimum wage that was slightly increased in 2023. Workdays often extend to 10-12 hours or more with few breaks allowed.
Bangladesh’s labour laws have been criticised for their failure to effectively prevent these abuses and for not taking into account the increasing threat of extreme heat.
Bangladesh Apparel Workers Federation president Md Towhidur Rahman said: “In Bangladesh, we have commitments, we have protective policies for [formal sector] workers. But in practice, it’s not happening. Accountability is not happening.”
Both companies and governments are not adequately safeguarding workers in the face of escalating climate challenges, says CRI.
Recommendations for tackling impact of heat stress on Bangladesh’s garment sector workers
CRI has put forth several recommendations to address these challenges. It calls on the government to enhance legal protections for occupational health and safety with respect to climate change and suggests implementing stringent penalties for non-compliance with labour laws.
Additionally, it advocates for the creation of a Heat Action Plan and an early warning system to inform workers about heat-related risks.
CRI also urged employers to make workplace adaptations that reduce heat exposure and to provide comprehensive training on illness prevention and emergency response.
Brands and companies are also urged to set and enforce minimum heat safety standards in their supply chains and conduct due diligence to identify and mitigate heat-related human rights risks.
“Businesses and governments have an obligation to protect workers from the growing threat of extreme heat,” said Cara Schulte, author of the report.
She continued: “Employers and multinational corporations should work in tandem with the Bangladesh government to monitor heat safety, protect workers, and uphold their rights. Doing so will be critical to the future of public health, worker wellbeing, and the global economy.”
The report also calls for fairer wages to prevent workers from having to endure excessive overtime or work under hazardous heat conditions.
In February, a report released by the Rights Lab at the University of Nottingham and GoodWeave International claimed modern slavery and child labour persists in Bangladesh’s ready-made garment (RMG) supply chains.
