By Anjali Sharma
UNITED NATIONS – According to a new report by the International Labour Organization released on Wednesday in New York stated that over 840,000 people die each year from health conditions linked to risks such as long working hours, job insecurity, workplace harassment and bullying.
The report said that the way that jobs are designed, organized and managed has a major effect on the health and safety of workers, and, according to the study The psychosocial working environment: Global developments and pathways for action the impact is growing, manifesting itself in rising rates of cardiovascular disease and mental disorders, including suicide.
The report’s authors looked at three interrelated areas of work: the nature of the job (including the demands, responsibilities and tasks), how it is organized and managed and the broader workplace policies in place (such as performance and reward processes and rules preventing violence and harassment).
They estimated the figure of 840,000 deaths per year by looking at global levels of workplace risk factors: job strain, an imbalance between effort and reward, job insecurity, long working hours, bullying and harassment.
Scientific research shows how these risks increase the likelihood of serious health conditions and the risk levels were matched with the latest global mortality and health data from the World Health Organization and the Global Burden of Disease study to arrive at the number.
Many of these risks have been around for a long time, but the ILO is concerned by the effects of the current transformations that are taking place where we work.
These upheavals include digitalization, AI, remote work and new job arrangements which if not addressed properly – can intensify existing problems or create new ones, the report added.
Manal Azzi, Team Lead on OSH Policy and Systems at the ILO said “Psychosocial risks are becoming one of the most significant challenges for occupational safety and health in the modern world of work,”.
“Improving the psychosocial working environment is essential not only for protecting workers’ mental and physical health, but also for strengthening productivity, organisational performance and sustainable economic development.”
The report emphasized that the risks and excess deaths, can be avoided if roots causes are addressed, and if psychosocial risk management is integrated into occupational safety and health systems and supported by social dialogue between governments, employers and workers.
ILO noted that by addressing the risks proactively, the report concludes, countries and enterprises can create healthier workplaces that benefit both workers and organizations while strengthening productivity and economic resilience.
