Over 16 Per Cent Of Workers Experience Occupational Psychosocial Disorders – KESUMA
KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 16.91 per cent of workers who underwent screening through the National Occupational Disease Prevention Programme (NODiP) are likely to be experiencing work-related psychosocial disorders.
Human Resources Minister, Datuk Seri R Ramanan, said that this finding was obtained through a large-scale study involving 100,000 workers from seven industrial sectors conducted from 2023 to 2025.
He said that the study assessed various psychosocial risks in the workplace, including high workload, high work pace, and time pressure, which can impact workers’ mental well-being.
“The changing landscape of today’s employment not only involves pressures related to the use of digital technology or artificial intelligence (AI), but encompasses the entire work ecosystem, including work culture, workload management, industrial relations, and psychosocial risks.
“This condition can affect the mental and physical health of workers and, if it arises, can be categorised as an occupational disease.
“Therefore, the findings of this study prove that the ministry has empirical data on the mental health status of workers to formulate more effective prevention strategies,” he said in a written reply published on the Parliament website.
He was responding to a question from Abd Ghani Ahmad (PN-Jerlun), who asked for an explanation regarding the estimated loss of national productivity due to anxiety and mental stress in the workplace, as well as the policies established to protect workers’ mental well-being.
Ramanan said that the Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA) through the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (JKKP) continuously strengthens occupational safety and health aspects through enforcement of legislation, development of related guidelines, and implementation of long-term strategic plans.
Among the initiatives given attention are the implementation of the Occupational Safety and Health Master Plan 2026-2030 (OSHMP30), the development of competencies for Psychosocial Trained Persons (PTP), specialised training modules, as well as promotional and advocacy programmes nationwide.
He said that these efforts aim to ensure that employers manage psychosocial risks systematically while creating a safer, healthier, and more conducive working environment.
“The Government through KESUMA remains committed to strengthening the management of safety, health, and mental well-being of workers through a comprehensive and integrated approach.
“These initiatives are important for continuously improving the mental well-being, productivity, and quality of life of workers,” he said.
Berita Harian