Workers, employers and government have called for stronger action to address psychosocial risks in the workplace, as South Africa marked the 2026 World Day for Safety and Health at Work with a renewed focus on inspections and enforcement services.
Speaking at the national commemoration on 24 April in Mbombela, the Deputy Ministers of Employment and Labour Judith Nemadzinga-Tshabalala Jomo Sibiya emphasised that workplace safety must extend beyond physical hazards to include mental and emotional well-being.
"A workplace cannot be truly safe if it is psychologically unsafe," said Sibiya. Psychosocial risks such as stress, violence, harassment and job insecurity are workplace risks, not personal problems.
Held under the theme "Let's Ensure a Healthy Psychosocial Working Environment," the event brought together government institutions, organized labour, business representatives and the International Labour Organization (ILO). The World Day for Safety and Health, is observed annually on 28 April, and promotes safe and healthy work while honouring victims and survivors of occupational accidents and diseases.
The urgency of addressing psychosocial risks in the workplace was underscored by findings presented by the ILO during a presentation delivered by Simphiwe Mabhele. Drawing on the ILO's latest global report, the presentation highlighted that an estimated 840,000 deaths each year are linked to work-related psychosocial risks, including cardiovascular diseases, depression and other mental health disorders. In the context of the World Day for Safety and Health at Work, the ILO emphasised that psychosocial hazards must be recognised and managed with the same level of seriousness as physical risks.
The remarks reinforced the global message of the World Day: that safe and healthy work environments are fundamental to decent work, productivity and human dignity, and that prevention, strong labour inspection systems and employer accountability are critical to protecting workers' mental and emotional well-being.
A technical presentation by Department of Employment and Labour specialist Bulelwa Huna outlined practical approaches to addressing psychosocial risks at workplace level. The presentation emphasised the importance of integrating psychosocial risk management into occupational safety and health systems, strengthening risk assessments, improving reporting mechanisms, and building workplace cultures that prioritise prevention, early intervention and worker participation.
Employers and workers agreed that social dialogue remains essential to balancing productivity with worker protection.
Central to South Africa's response is the strengthening of the Department of Employment and Labour's Inspection and Enforcement Services (IES) Branch. A recruitment drive is underway to expand the inspectorate and improve its capacity to monitor compliance and intervene where risks are identified.
The Department's National Occupational Health and Safety Strategy (2024-2029) outlines measures to strengthen enforcement, improve reporting systems, enhance worker participation and integrate psychosocial risks into occupational safety frameworks, supported by a balanced approach combining advocacy with firm enforcement.
© ILO
Deputy Minister Sibiya underscored that occupational safety and health is not only a compliance issue, but also a matter of human rights, governance and economic sustainability.
Psychosocial safety is a hard requirement for sustainable productivity and social justice, Deputy Minister Sibiya said, calling for workplaces designed around people, not just output."
As South Africa prepares to mark Freedom Day and Workers' Day, the commemoration reinforced a shared commitment: through stronger inspection systems, effective enforcement and inclusive dialogue, every worker should be able to return home safe, healthy and treated with dignity.
© ILO
