By Ashiadey Dotse
A new report by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), has revealed that work-related stress and poor working conditions are responsible for about 840,000 deaths worldwide each year.
The report highlights those psychosocial risks at work such as long working hours, job insecurity, bullying, and harassment are creating harmful environments that affect both physical and mental health.
According to the findings, these risks are strongly linked to serious health problems including heart disease and mental health conditions like depression and suicide. The World Health Organisation also estimates that depression and anxiety lead to about 12 billion lost working days every year.
Speaking on the issue, ILO expert Manal Azzi described psychosocial risks as one of the biggest challenges facing workplace safety today. She stressed that improving working conditions is not only important for workers’ health but also for productivity and economic growth.
The report shows that long working hours remain a major concern, with about 35 percent of workers globally working more than 48 hours a week. Research indicates that working 55 hours or more weekly increases the risk of stroke by 35 percent and raises the chances of dying from heart disease.
Workplace harassment is another serious issue. The report found that nearly one in four workers worldwide has experienced some form of violence or harassment, with psychological abuse being the most common.
Beyond direct health effects, stress at work can also lead to unhealthy habits such as smoking, alcohol use, overeating, and lack of exercise, which increase the risk of chronic diseases like obesity and hypertension.
The report indicated that the impact of these work-related health risks is significant, leading to millions of years of lost healthy life and costing the global economy about 1.37 percent of its total output annually.
The report calls for urgent action from employers and policymakers. It recommends better job design, manageable workloads, clear roles, and access to mental health support services. It also urges organisations to adapt to changes brought by technology, remote work, and artificial intelligence to reduce stress in modern workplaces.
Experts say that without immediate intervention, the growing pressure of work could continue to pose a serious threat to global health and productivity.
