More than three-quarters of the world’s unpaid work is performed by women, accounting for 11 billion hours of such work each day.
Over the years, climate change has become more severe due to global warming, extreme weather events, and increased precipitation. They are wreaking havoc in the workplace, impacting industries such as agriculture, construction, healthcare and tourism. Heat waves increase mortality among outdoor workers, especially during extreme events. Storms are likely to cause business interruptions and infrastructure damage.
ecological impact
Changes in precipitation types can directly impact water supply and water quality management, resulting in many problems for water-dependent industries, especially agriculture and industry. As climate change comes to the fore, finding ways to adapt to changing environments and mitigate potential ecological impacts on the workplace will form the final reflex and improve worker safety, health, and productivity. This will prevent negative consequences.
Occupational hazards increase due to climate change
Dr. Manju Gupta, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist, Maternity Hospital, Noida; explain that the uniqueness of women’s physiology in severe heat is the difference in their response compared to men, which is surprising in women’s biological susceptibility. Since women work in most fields, this situation increases the challenges related to occupational hazards faced by women and differentially causes women’s vulnerability to health and safety at work. . For example, in the agricultural sector and fisheries, where women make up a large proportion of the workforce, it has been observed that prolonged exposure to extreme weather conditions such as heat waves, floods, and rain poses a significant risk of injury and suffering from heat stroke. I am. Associated illnesses and deaths.
The disproportionate burden of care work and its impact on mental health
More than three-quarters of the world’s unpaid work is performed by women, accounting for 11 billion hours of such work each day. 1:
- Around the world, women do three times as much caregiving and household work as men. Women in low- and middle-income countries spend more time doing unpaid work than women in high-income countries. However, there are also disparities in income between countries. Because unpaid care work is not accounted for in national accounting systems or deeply entrenched patriarchal structures, unpaid care work is considered to be of low value and is often hidden from mainstream economics.
- Unpaid caregiving and domestic work are associated with poorer mental health and poorer quality of life, but most research on this topic has been conducted in wealthy countries. During the COVID-19 pandemic, men and women around the world spent more time caring for children and doing household chores. Still, women do so at significantly higher rates and with greater vigor. It is reasonable to expect that women in unpaid work during a crisis may be more susceptible to mental illness due to increased stress and increased workload.
