Inside scorching Pakistani factories making clothes for global fashion brands

Extreme heat means temperatures of at least 32 degrees Celsius combined with high humidity. Heat stress develops when the body cannot safely cope with those conditions. It matters because factories can expose workers for hours, often without breaks, water, or cooling.

The danger may not be obvious. Workers in Karachi described blurred vision, exhaustion, breathing problems, blood-pressure swings, swollen limbs, and temporary muscle paralysis. Heat can also worsen cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and asthma. Siddiqui fainted after her supervisor told her to continue working.

The article links prolonged heat exposure to dehydration, heatstroke, organ failure, and death. Risks rise the longer someone works in the heat, according to Andreas Flouris. Yet most interviewed workers reported absent heat protocols, lost wages when illness forced them home, and little change after complaints. Climate change is making these conditions more frequent and dangerous.

The article does not give one exact maximum factory temperature. It reports that temperatures inside Siddiqui’s home routinely exceeded 37.8 degrees Celsius during heatwaves, while her garment factory felt even hotter. Extreme heat is defined as at least 32 degrees Celsius combined with high humidity.

More than a dozen workers in Karachi were interviewed, and all described scorching workplaces and negative health effects. These included fainting, blurred vision, exhaustion, breathing problems, swollen limbs, and blood-pressure swings. All said they had seen colleagues faint, while several had fainted themselves, sometimes repeatedly.

The heat was intensified by summer monsoon humidity, industrial machines, metal roofs, broken or undersized fans, and limited ventilation. Every worker said no heat sensors were installed. Only one reported a ventilation system, showing how widespread the missing protections were.

Long periods in extreme heat can overwhelm the body’s ability to regulate itself. The article describes heat as a silent killer because it may show few outward symptoms while causing serious internal damage. Risk increases the longer a person works in hot conditions.

Karachi workers reported exhaustion, blurred vision, breathing problems, blood-pressure swings, swollen limbs, and temporary muscle paralysis. Several said they had fainted, sometimes more than once. Siddiqui collapsed at work, was sent to hospital, and then lost income because her employer refused to cover the visit.

Heat can cause dehydration and heatstroke, worsen cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and asthma, and lead to organ failure or death. Workers often received only a short break or sugary drink after fainting. Missing work also meant lost wages for all but one interviewed worker, making illness a financial threat.

Garment factories combine several sources of heat in enclosed workplaces. Large industrial machines churn heat into the air, and crowded rooms hold many sweating workers close together. Summer monsoon humidity makes the air feel thicker and makes hot conditions harder to tolerate.

Metal roofs absorb and radiate summer heat. Workers said some roofs made conditions unbearable, while windows were slitlike, set high, or closed to prevent theft. Fans were often broken or too small. These features reduce air movement and trap heat inside, especially when factories lack proper ventilation or cooling systems.

The result is a workplace hotter than workers’ already-warm homes. Factories interviewed had no heat sensors, and only one worker reported a ventilation system. Without measuring heat and humidity, employers may fail to recognize dangerous conditions or provide timely breaks, water, and other protections.

Factories can take simple, scalable steps to reduce heat stress. They can measure indoor temperature and humidity accurately, provide cold drinking water, and allow regular breaks. Better ventilation and cooling can move hot air away from workers. Barriers can block radiant heat from machinery, while white rooftops can deflect sunlight.

These measures address different sources of danger. Sensors reveal when heat and humidity become hazardous. Water and breaks help workers recover. Ventilation and cooling reduce trapped heat, while barriers and lighter roofs limit heat entering the work area. The article describes these actions as economically feasible.

Most workers said almost none were used. Every worker reported having no heat sensors, and only one reported a ventilation system. Several received no extra water or breaks despite metal roofs. Workers also said complaints produced no changes, suggesting safety promises were not being implemented.

The article connects these factories to global fashion supply chains. Siddiqui worked in a garment factory producing clothes for Spanish brands Zara and Mango. Ten of the interviewed workers said they made goods for global brands sold in the United States and Europe.

Global companies have pledged to protect workers’ safety. That responsibility includes making sure supplier factories measure heat, provide water and breaks, and maintain ventilation and cooling. It also means checking whether workers can report dangers without retaliation or lost pay. The article presents these protections as practical and feasible.

Yet workers described scorching conditions, absent heat protocols, fainting, and wage losses. Experts and labour rights advocates said brand promises remained unfulfilled as temperatures rose. Brands connected to overseas suppliers therefore need to turn public safety commitments into conditions workers can actually experience and verify.

Climate change is increasing the number of people exposed to extreme heat. Studies by World Weather Attribution found that it has drastically increased the frequency, intensity, and risks of extreme heatwaves in Pakistan. Workers therefore face a growing hazard both inside factories and at home.

The article describes factories with no heat sensors, few functioning fans, limited windows, and no extra water or breaks. Workers who fainted were often given a short break or sugary drink, then told to resume. Complaints led to no changes, and missed hours usually meant lost wages. Fear of retaliation kept interviewees anonymous.

Global brands had pledged to protect workers, but experts and labour rights advocates said promises remained unfulfilled. Voluntary commitments can fail when suppliers do not implement them and workers lack effective protection. Rising heat makes regular measurement, practical safeguards, and meaningful accountability increasingly important.