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Safe and healthy work is not only a social requirement but also the foundation for sustainable economic growth, an International Labour Organization (ILO) expert said, as the ILO and partners in Vietnam promoted measures to address psychosocial risk in the workplace during the National Action Month on Safety and Health at Work.
Within the framework of the Action Month, the event “Psychosocial Work Environment” was held on the afternoon of May 12. It focused on the psychosocial work environment and mental health in the world of work.
Globally, the ILO estimates that psychosocial risks at work contribute to more than 840,000 work-related deaths each year.
At the event, Ms. Sinwon Park, Director of the ILO Office in Vietnam, said psychosocial risks are increasingly affecting workers’ experiences but are often not given due attention. She noted that digital tools, artificial intelligence, platform labor, and remote work are changing how work is organized and managed.
While these changes can bring opportunities for innovation and productivity, Ms. Park said they can also lead to increased stress, longer working hours, feelings of isolation, and instability if not well managed. For many workers, she added, the boundary between work and personal life is becoming blurred.
“Psychosocial risks are not inevitable. They are affected by how work is designed and managed, meaning we can prevent them,” Ms. Park said.
She emphasized that a safe and healthy workplace must include mental health and workers’ peace of mind, especially for young workers adapting to a fast-changing labor market. “Innovation and productivity must go hand in hand with prevention, protection, and ensuring dignity at work. Safe and healthy work is not only a social requirement, but also the foundation for sustainable economic growth,” she said.
Key findings from the ILO’s global report on the psychosocial work environment, presented by Yuka Ujita, Senior Safety and Health Specialist at the ILO, highlighted that all workers need protection through ensuring a safe and healthy workplace, including:
Representatives from the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry shared national perspectives on current challenges, best practices, and action priorities for the near future.
Delegates also discussed the state of psychosocial risk in Vietnam, stressing the importance of preventive measures, promoting social dialogue, and building an inclusive work environment to ensure safe and healthy workplaces, especially for young workers.
The ILO called on the government, employers, and workers to continue effectively implementing international labor standards to build safe, healthy, and respectful workplaces.
It said the effective implementation of ILO Conventions 155 and 187—both ratified by Vietnam—can strengthen prevention and management of psychosocial risks and reinforce the right to work in a safe and healthy environment, including mental health.
The ILO also noted that ILO Convention 190 states that violence and harassment have no place in the world of work, and said it provides an important basis for Vietnam to continue studying ratification in the coming years.
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