Gulf states are exposing migrant workers to extreme and potentially fatal temperatures, a new report has found.

Killer Heat, published on Tuesday by Vital Signs Partnership, a coalition of organisations researching migrant worker deaths, said foreign labourers in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE were at acute risk of heat-related illnesses and injuries.

In most of the Gulf region, there are between 100 and 150 days when the maximum daily temperature exceeds 40ºC.

That is set to increase significantly due to climate change, according to projection research cited in the report…

The report states that there is growing global concern over the development of chronic kidney disease - a fatal loss of kidney function, in those who do physically demanding work in high temperatures.

A nephrologist in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka said that he had received several patients returning from Gulf countries with kidney problems, which he attributed to heat exposure and dehydration...

Gulf countries have varying laws banning work at certain hours during summer months, however the report describes the measures as inadequate…

The NGOs called on Gulf countries to adopt a risk-based rather than calendar-based approach, and to ensure mandatory breaks in shaded areas and access to water and chilled food storage…