By Rising workplace heat stress could cost Sri Lanka and the Maldives a combined USD 26.6 billion annually and reduce working time by the equivalent of 147,000 full-time jobs by 2040, according to new International Labour Organization studies reported by Devdiscourse. The Maldives accounts for approximately 2,400 of those full-time job equivalents, with annual losses of around USD 576 million.
The projections are based on a low-emissions pathway and compare outcomes against a historical reference period of 1985 to 2014. The figures do not represent a prediction of direct job losses. They translate the expected reduction in working hours into full-time employment equivalents. In the Maldives, services and construction emerge as the most affected sectors, while Sri Lanka’s agriculture faces the greatest expected impact.
Where the numbers come from
The ILO figures use a methodology that converts lost productive working time into full-time job equivalents. When heat slows work pace, forces more frequent breaks, or makes outdoor tasks unsafe, those lost hours accumulate. The ILO then divides the total lost hours by standard full-time working hours to produce a job-equivalent figure.
The 2040 projection assumes a low-emissions pathway, meaning the losses would likely be higher under a higher-emissions scenario. The historical baseline of 1985 to 2014 allows the ILO to isolate the additional effect of climate-driven heat stress rather than pre-existing hot conditions. Devdiscourse noted that in 2023, climate-driven increases in workplace heat stress already caused additional losses of working time and GDP in both countries compared with that baseline.
The report includes a caution that maintaining working hours does not necessarily mean maintaining productivity. A worker who remains on shift but slows down due to heat still produces less output, even if the hours are formally worked.
What this means for Maldivian employers
The Maldives figure of 2,400 full-time job equivalents sits within a workforce heavily concentrated in tourism, construction and related services. Resort staff, airport ground crews, construction labourers and fisheries workers spend significant time outdoors or in poorly cooled environments. The ILO finding that services and construction are the most affected sectors in the Maldives aligns with that economic structure.
For HR and payroll teams, the practical question is how heat stress translates into scheduling, overtime and wage costs. A slower work pace may not reduce the hours on a timesheet, but it can reduce output per shift. Employers may face pressure to add rest breaks, shift start times earlier or later, or provide cooling equipment. Those changes carry payroll implications, particularly where workers are paid hourly or where overtime is common.
The Maldives relies heavily on migrant workers in construction and tourism. The ILO figures do not distinguish between Maldivian nationals and foreign workers, so employers should consider how heat exposure affects both groups. Migrant workers in construction often live in shared accommodation and may have limited access to cooling outside working hours, which can compound heat stress effects.
What the top pages do not answer
The pages currently ranking for this search phrase do not address the ILO findings at all. One is a Maldives news homepage with unrelated coverage of tourism, politics and environmental issues. The other is a repository homepage with no article-level content on heat stress or job losses. Readers searching for the specific figures will not find them on those pages.
That leaves several questions unanswered by the current results. The exact ILO report title and publication date are not stated in the Devdiscourse article. The margin of error or uncertainty range for the projections is not provided. The report does not specify whether the USD 576 million Maldives figure represents GDP loss, labour income loss, or a broader economic measure.
The grouping of Sri Lanka and the Maldives together likely reflects shared ILO country office coverage or subregional classification rather than similar economic structures. The two countries have very different workforce profiles, with Sri Lanka’s agricultural sector dominating its losses and the Maldives’ services and construction sectors most exposed.
Practical steps for HR and payroll teams
Employers in the Maldives should review outdoor work schedules and consider whether current shift patterns expose workers to peak heat. Construction sites and resort maintenance teams may need adjusted start times during hot months. Payroll teams should prepare for potential changes to overtime calculations if shifts are split or rest breaks extended.
The Devdiscourse report said the findings intensify pressure on governments and employers to protect workers without undermining livelihoods. It also said appropriate responses require consideration of working conditions rather than reliance on a uniform national intervention. That suggests sector-specific approaches rather than a single national rule.
HR teams should document heat-related schedule changes and any health incidents. That creates a record if occupational safety authorities introduce formal requirements. Employers should also confirm whether any existing Maldivian labour regulations address heat exposure, as the Devdiscourse article did not state specific laws or rulings.
The ILO figures are projections, not certainties. A low-emissions pathway assumes climate action that may or may not materialise. Employers should treat the 2,400 job-equivalent figure as a planning scenario rather than a fixed outcome.
Sources: Devdiscourse
Photo: 12-6-25, chaleur à Paris (ouvriers autour d'une fontaine Wallace) - btv1b5315050 by Agence Rol. Agence photographique (commanditaire), Public domain
