New Delhi, April 22 -- The government has asked all states and Union Territories (UTs) to implement urgent and coordinated measures to protect workers from heat stress.

The order follows a Mint report, which appeared in Tuesday's edition, highlighting the growing toll of extreme heatwaves on India's workforce, particularly in labour-intensive manufacturing sectors.

In a letter sent on Tuesday to all chief secretaries and administrators, the labour and employment ministry directed authorities to issue clear instructions to employers, occupiers, industries, and construction firms to take necessary steps to safeguard workers from rising temperatures.

Mint reported that as summer arrives ahead of schedule, forecasts of intense heatwaves ar...