China’s Gig Workers at Risk From Extreme Heat
Also today: How a city-run supermarket might work in New York, and how mist gardens can keep cities cool.
Delivery workers in Beijing in July
By law, China’s 200 million gig workers are eligible to receive a “heat wave allowance” from their employers for working in extreme heat conditions. But as cities swelters under excessive temperatures, many delivery couriers say they haven’t received a penny.
Across the globe, dangerously high temperatures are becoming more common due to climate change, and putting more people at risk. Among the most vulnerable are those who work outdoors, despite some regulation efforts from governments.