Why are the health hazards in Asian 'sweat shops" becoming worse?

This a shoe factory in Haiphong, Vietnam,  photographed in 2002, where 2900 young women worked up to 12 hours per day, six days per week.There is no air conditioning so the workers are exposed to 30 to 40 degree heat as well as evaporated solvents from the glues. Heat in the summer reduced work productivity.

Countries like Vietnam are already experienced rising summer temperatures from global warming. The workers in these factories are at particular risk. They are crowded and they fail to have adequate fluid intake to avoid having to relieve themselves. Increases in heat stroke and susceptibility to the toxic effects of solvents are to be expected.

Heat stroke is recognised as one of the major health hazards of climate change. Citizens of Western  can protect themselves by using air conditioners (and thereby increase greenhouse gas emissions) whereas workers in developing countries remain unprotected.

Photo: Tord Kjellstrom