As mercury begins to soar, India Inc steps up to keep workers sun-safe
India Meteorological Department forecasting more heatwave days than usual — companies are putting in place measures to provide some relief to workers. From ecommerce firms to real estate developers as well as oil, coal and mining companies — all say they are scaling up their efforts to protect those at higher risk from soaring temperatures. Temperatures have touched 40 degrees Celsius in many parts of the country, with worse expected to follow in the next few months.
Measures to safeguard workers during the brutal summer months include restricted work hours, flexibility, resting areas and water stations, access to energy drinks, oral rehydration solution (ORS), medicines, access to health professionals, and breathable clothing, among others. Some ecommerce companies are even enabling additional earnings.
Ecommerce drive:
Zomato, Flipkart, Zepto, BigBasket and Swiggy among others are offering delivery executives and riders refreshments, juice, glucose, full-sleeved breathable clothing and more resting areas. Food delivery platform Zomato is stepping up its Shelter Project, under which it intends to scale up the number of rest points from 450 to 5,000- plus by June, with the support of restaurant partners. It will also tap weather forecasts to issue warnings of upcoming heat waves to delivery staff. Flipkart is enabling flexibility in afternoon delivery schedules, by encouraging breaks when the summer heat is at its peak.
“Flipkart's supply chain forms the backbone of our business and we are ensuring that our
