Heat, Work and the New Economy: Protecting Informal Workers in a Warming Southeast Asia

About this event

Extreme heat is rapidly becoming a labour, livelihood and economic resilience challenge across Southeast Asia. Informal and outdoor workers - including street vendors, construction workers, transport workers, waste workers, small farmers and migrant workers who are often among the most exposed, yet remain least protected by workplace safeguards, social protection, insurance and adaptation finance. This interactive policy and practice lab asks: what would a worker-centred heat protection system for Southeast Asia look like? Bringing together workers and community-facing organisations, cities, researchers, public-health practitioners, funders, insurers and development partners, the session will explore how heat early warning can be connected to decisions, practical protection and financial mechanisms before harm occurs. Participants will use a Sense–Decide–Act–Sustain framework to examine early warning and risk intelligence; institutional protocols and responsibilities; measures such as shade, hydration, cooling spaces, work-rest cycles and community preparedness; and the role of anticipatory finance, social protection, micro-insurance and parametric insurance. The session aims to generate practical principles and partnerships for protecting workers while strengthening the resilience of cities and local economies across Southeast Asia.