Extreme Heat to Reduce Southeast Asia Labor Productivity

Southeast Asia could lose 16 percent of current labor capacity due to rising heat stress over the next three decades. Singapore and Malaysia may face the biggest losses in productivity.

Rises in global temperatures threatens productivity to drop in Southeast Asia by up to 25 percent over the next 30 years, a global risk analytics company report said.

"Climate change will push heat stress impacts to boiling point with significant implications for both national economies and the health of vulnerable workers," head of environment at Verisk Maplecroft, Dr. James Allan, said in a statement late Tuesday.

Verisk Maplecroft estimates that Southeast Asia could lose 16 percent of current labor capacity due to rising heat stress over the next three decades, the company said citing new data.

Its research suggested Singapore and Malaysia may face the biggest losses in productivity at drop-offs of 25 percent and 24 percent respectively. They are to be followed by Indonesia, Cambodia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

The productivity losses are attributed to dizziness, fatigue, nausea and death from heat stress in extreme cases, Verisk said.

The labor losses in Southeast Asia are said to be nearly double the next worst-affected regions of the Caribbean and West Africa.