Reports

Based on a systematic review of Vietnamese-language literature and a survey of 400 outdoor workers across Vietnam's four megacities, this paper identified four key findings. First, there is a significant gap in research focusing on informal workers. Second, the workforce primarily comprises male migrants who lack stable accommodation. Third, more than 50% of these workers face high health risks due to prolonged sun exposure. Fourth, climate change has a substantial impact on their income and ability to save. Drawing on this preliminary research, this paper proposes three main recommendations:

1. Enhance working conditions by establishing mobile rest stations, providing protective equipment, and developing supportive mobile applications
2. Strengthen health protection through the implementation of mobile medical services, micro-insurance options, and early warning systems
3. Support livelihoods by establishing  emergency funds, offering vocational training opportunities, and creating platforms for seasonal job-matching

Citation: Nguyen, L. D., & Vo, T. T. A. (2024). Climate change impacts outdoor workers’ health in urban Vietnam: Preliminary research findings (Policy Brief, October 29, 2024). SocialLife Research Institute. doi.org/10.71169/sociallife-pb-2024-1
(vi) pp 1-8 (en) pp 9-15

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Climate change presents severe challenges globally, with developing countries being the most vulnerable due to limited resources for adaptation. Outdoor workers directly exposed to extreme weather are particularly at risk of climate-related health impacts. This paper synthesises evidence from Vietnamese-language literature to examine the health effects of climate change on outdoor workers in urban Asia and identify policy gaps. It provides a pioneering synthesis of Vietnamese-language research on this topic, expanding the scope of existing systematic reviews that typically overlook non-English literature. The findings highlight heat stress and respiratory diseases as the primary health concerns, often exacerbated by inadequate protective measures and insufficient support systems. The review identifies a significant research gap: most research focuses on formal sector workers, while the needs and adaptation strategies of  informal workers remain under-explored . Although employer-provided protective gear is frequently highlighted, there is little discussion of  broader governmental or social support for informal workers. This paper highlights the need for interdisciplinary research on climate change impacts across diverse outdoor occupations. It calls for targeted policy development to strengthen health protections and create support systems for vulnerable working populations in urban Asia.

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This working paper draws from a survey of 400 informal workers in urban Vietnam to investigate how their exposure to climate-related health risks and adaptive capacities to those risks depend on social determinants such as workers’ ethnicity, education level, marital status, etc. It explores how climate change exacerbates existing social inequalities, revealing the intersectional marginalizations faced by informal workers.

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This systematic literature review of the health impacts of climate change on urban outdoor workers in Asia synthesises the findings of 18 studies. It examines climate-related health risks, vulnerabilities, coping strategies, and adaptation measures employed by outdoor workers. It identifies critical gaps in understanding the direct and indirect health effects of climate-related stressors including extreme heat, air pollution, and other weather-related hazards. It explores the vulnerabilities of outdoor workers and notes areas for future research and policy intervention.

A review report of Vietnamese policies on climate change-health-outdoor workers by Vietnamese Medical Association will be published in the Vietnam Medical Journal.