Scorching Heatwave Forces Salt Workers in Thoothukudi to Work Night Shifts Amid Severe Hardships

The plight of these workers highlights a harsh reality shaped by climate change and labour rights concerns. To escape the searing afternoon heat, workers have completely altered their schedules, now working from 1 a.m. until 8 a.m. The blazing sunlight reflecting off the white salt surfaces during the day causes severe strain on their eyes and bodies, making nighttime the only viable option for survival.

Despite the shift in working hours, their challenges remain severe. Basic facilities are virtually nonexistent. A woman worker identified as Kala expressed her distress, stating that they engage in physically exhausting labour throughout the night but lack even fundamental amenities such as toilets. She added that despite their intense efforts, they receive only minimum wages and urged the government to provide incentive allowances.

Another worker, Sathyabama, pointed out that there is no access to clean drinking water at the worksite. She emphasized that both men and women work under these harsh conditions, yet there are no restroom facilities for women or adequate water supply. She appealed to authorities to address these urgent needs.

The issue gained widespread attention after a post by ANI went viral on social media, garnering over 4,000 likes and more than 150,000 views at the time of reporting. Users reacted strongly, with one noting that rising temperatures are now dictating work shifts in India. Others remarked that working at night is preferable to enduring 45-degree Celsius heat, while many stressed that workers must be provided with essential facilities. Several users also highlighted the growing burden of climate change on labourers.

This situation comes at a time when the India Meteorological Department has issued warnings of above-normal heatwave conditions across multiple regions of the country between April and June 2026, particularly in coastal areas of Tamil Nadu.

The condition of these workers underscores a critical intersection of climate change and labour welfare, raising serious questions about workplace safety, basic human rights, and the urgent need for administrative intervention in extreme weather conditions.