WRI India 25d ago

A world where extreme heat is no longer a one off concern but a daily battle for millions of workers, the World Resources Institute (WRI), in collaboration with Social Compact, hosted a powerful and insightful webinar on 29th May focused on the ground realities, challenges, and practical solutions to combat heat stress in the workplace. The session brought together industry experts, solution providers, and thought leaders to discuss the various challenges that were faced by the workers, but also leave with the questions of what has been done in the Heat Impact Space till now and how it can benefit the larger worker space who work both outside and inside for the MSME’s. The conversations were focused on different solutions that can be implemented at the infrastructure level from the company side and also on what the worker really wants when they are working in scorching heat. Considerations about the budget and the insurance of heat impact were also taken into account during the session which gave the session a rounded and left the audience with a rounded understanding the impact of heat and the difficulties. You can also refer to the Key highlights of the session below: 13:17 - 19:07 - Mr. Ponram Pandian (Unicon Engineers) shared real life on ground wins and implementation strategies— more water outlets, smarter shift timings, shade etc. 19:36 - 40:00 - Mr. Vijay Kumar (Senior Partner, Conserve Consultants) explained how cool roofs and smart natural ventilation systems are dramatically lowering factory temperatures. 41:20 - 52:17 - Phalgun Vyas (Founder, Sukoontech Solutions) showcased cooling jackets for industrial and gig workers, along with flexible pricing models. 53:45 - 1:04:17 - Himani Naidu (Senior Associate, Work Fair and Free Foundation) raised tough questions on accountability — who is responsible for protecting informal and MSME workers from heat? 1:05:28 - 1:24:14 - Mr. Amitesh Ahir (Senior Vice President – Reinsurance, Howden Insurance Brokers Ltd.) discussed the emerging role of heat insurance and the urgent need to protect vulnerable communities like women and gig workers.