Important for:

UPSC, Haryana HCS, Punjab PCS
Prelims: International Labour Organization (ILO), psychosocial risks
Mains: GS Paper 2 — Social Justice, Labour Welfare
GS Paper 3: Economy, Productivity, Human Capital
Essay/Ethics: Workplace stress, dignity of labour

Why in News?

A report by the International Labour Organization highlights that toxic work environments and psychosocial risks are causing over 8.4 lakh deaths annually worldwide.

What are Psychosocial Risks?

Psychosocial risks refer to workplace conditions that harm:

• Mental health
• Emotional well-being

Key Risk Factors:

• Long working hours
• Job insecurity
• Work pressure
• Workplace harassment & bullying

Key Findings of the Report

• 8.4 lakh deaths annually due to workplace-related psychosocial risks
• Nearly 45 million DALYs (Disability Adjusted Life Years) lost every year
• Around 35% workers globally work more than 48 hours/week
• About 23% workers face harassment or violence
• Psychological stress contributes to:
  • Cardiovascular diseases
  • Mental disorders

Major Causes Identified

Workplace Factor	Impact
Long working hours	Burnout, stress
Job insecurity	Anxiety
Effort-reward imbalance	Low morale
Harassment & bullying	Mental trauma

Economic Impact

• Leads to 1.37% global GDP loss annually
• Reduces:
  • Productivity
  • Workforce efficiency
  • Economic performance

India-Specific Context

• Rising concerns:
  • Corporate burnout
  • Gig economy stress
  • Informal sector vulnerability

✔︎ Challenges:

• Weak labour protections
• Lack of mental health awareness
• Long working culture

Policy Recommendations (VERY IMPORTANT)

The report calls for:

1. Government Intervention

• Strong labour laws
• Workplace safety standards

2. Organizational Reforms

• Better work-life balance
• Anti-harassment policies
• Employee support systems

3. Worker Empowerment

• Collective bargaining
• Awareness about rights

Core Issue

Social Issue	Governance Challenge
Workplace stress	Lack of regulation
Mental health crisis	Poor awareness
Labour exploitation	Weak enforcement

PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

Q1. International Labour Organization (ILO) is:

A. A financial institution
B. A UN agency
C. A WTO body
D. A regional organisation

✅ Answer: B

Q2. Psychosocial risks include:

1. Job insecurity
2. Workplace harassment
3. Air pollution

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

✅ Answer: A

Q3. DALY stands for:

A. Daily Activity Life Yield
B. Disability Adjusted Life Years
C. Disease Analysis Life Year
D. Development Adjusted Life Years

✅ Answer: B

Q4. Which of the following is NOT a psychosocial risk?

A. Long working hours
B. Workplace bullying
C. Job insecurity
D. Soil pollution

✅ Answer: D

Q5. Workplace stress mainly affects:

A. Only physical health
B. Only mental health
C. Both physical and mental health
D. None

✅ Answer: C

Q6. ILO headquarters is located in:

A. New York
B. Geneva
C. Paris
D. London

✅ Answer: B

CBL Mains Practice Question

“Workplace stress is emerging as a major public health and economic challenge.”
Discuss with reference to global trends and India’s situation. (250 words)

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FAQs

1. What is a toxic workplace?

A work environment that harms mental and physical well-being of employees.

2. What are psychosocial risks?

Work-related stress factors like harassment, insecurity, and overwork.

3. Why is workplace stress important for UPSC?

It links social justice, economy, and public health.

4. What is DALY?

A measure of overall disease burden.

5. Which GS papers cover this topic?

GS2 (social justice) and GS3 (economy, health).