Geneva — June 1, 2026 — The International Labour Organization (ILO) turned a simple question — “How’s work?” — into a worldwide conversation during SafeDay 2026, held on April 28 to mark the World Day for Safety and Health at Work. This year’s campaign focused on the psychosocial working environment, highlighting how the design, organization, and management of work directly affect safety, health, and performance.
Nearly 3,000 participants joined the ILO global event via ILO Live, where ministers, employer and worker representatives, and occupational safety experts shared national experiences and strategies to prevent psychosocial risks. Countries including Senegal, Spain, Pakistan, and Malaysia presented approaches ranging from national OSH policies to workplace collaboration and regulatory frameworks.
Speakers emphasized that psychosocial risks — such as stress, poor job design, and lack of social support — are preventable. Yolanda Díaz, Spain’s Vice‑President and Minister of Labour, stressed the importance of strong regulation, while experts from academia and OSH institutions underscored the link between poor psychosocial conditions and serious health outcomes, including work‑related suicide.
The ILO’s global report, The Psychosocial Working Environment: Global Developments and Pathways for Action, was presented during the event, reinforcing the need for prevention at organizational, institutional, and policy levels. Experts argued that workplace responses must go beyond individual measures like resilience training, focusing instead on systemic changes such as working time arrangements and job design.
ILO officials highlighted that protecting psychosocial health is not optional but fundamental to decent work. Strong legislation, worker participation, and social dialogue were identified as key tools to translate evidence into effective prevention.
SafeDay 2026 reaffirmed that addressing psychosocial risks is central to building healthier, more resilient workplaces worldwide. By elevating this issue, the ILO underscored its commitment to ensuring that safe and healthy work environments are recognized as a fundamental right.
