All news: Health and social services

OpEd

Healthy minds, safe workplaces: A shared responsibility for Sri Lanka’s future of work

The opinion editorial is jointly authored by Joni Simpson, Country Director, International Labour Organization Country Office for Sri Lanka and the Maldives and Dr Rajesh Sambhajirao Pandav, World Health Organization, Country Representative, Sri...

Child Labour

Strengthening occupational health and safety: a key step toward preventing child labour in the Honduran coffee industry

The ILO-led CLEAR Supply Chains Project is empowering companies and cooperatives in Honduras’s coffee sector to prevent child labour through concrete strategies to be implemented throughout the supply chain.

Jordan advances national ownership of stronger labour inspection and safer, fairer workplaces

An assessment and coaching visit in Aqaba concludes the EU-funded, ILO-implemented capacity-building programme with the Ministry of Labour, which has strengthened labour inspectors’ skills and Jordan’s inspection system.

Artificial intelligence and the workplace

AI-driven intrusive surveillance and loss of autonomy at work linked to psychosocial risks for employees

The findings are based on new ILO analysis that highlight emerging risks to workers’ mental well-being and point to gaps in existing frameworks to address them.

Uzbekistan addresses violence and harassment in the health sector

WHO and ILO bring together tripartite partners and health professionals in Uzbekistan to discuss violence and harassment in the health sector and measures to promote safer workplaces.

Psychosocial risk

When work weighs on the mind: A Caribbean wake-up call

According the ILO’s findings, globally, psychosocial risk factors are linked to more than 840,000 deaths each year and nearly 45 million years of healthy life lost. The economic damage is equally stark: the combined burden is estimated to cost 1.37...

World Day for Safety and Health

South Africa strengthens labour inspection amid calls to address psychosocial risks

The Department of Employment and Labour marked World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2026 with a focus on psychosocial risks and workers’ mental well-being. The commemoration called for united action to build safe and dignified workplaces.

Opinion editorial

The hidden cost of work: Why psychosocial risks matter in the Philippines

In this Opinion editorial, on World Day for Safety and Health at Work, we are reminded that in the Philippines workplace safety goes beyond physical hazards to include unseen psychosocial risks such as stress, long working hours, job insecurity,...

ILO–OECD–WHO Working for Health programme

Health workers in Malawi benefit from safer workplace practices

Malawi is improving safety and working conditions for health workers with the support of the ILO. Practical, participatory solutions are implemented, helping reduce risks, strengthen workplace practices and support better quality care across pilot...

Responsible electronics

ILO launches survey on responsible labour practices in Viet Nam’s electronics sector

A nationwide survey is being conducted to better understand labour practices in Viet Nam’s electronics sector.

Assessing alignment of South Africa’s social security system with ILO Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952, No. 102

With the support of the ILO, South Africa’s social partners discussed and reviewed the preliminary results of a comparative assessment between the national legislation and this landmark ILO Convention.

Beyond compliance, South Africa drives workplace safety agenda

South Africa’s National OHS Conference 2026 brought together key stakeholders to drive a shift from compliance to prevention in workplace safety. The conference highlighted the importance of protecting workers’ rights, strengthening collaboration,...

International Women’s Day 2026

Gender equality requires inclusive and responsive social health protection policies

A new ILO policy brief highlights that gender must be a core consideration in the design and implementation of social health protection schemes.

Occupational safety and health

Strengthening occupational safety and health awareness and practice on farms in Lebanon

A new set of occupational safety and health visual guides and targeted training is helping workers, technicians and service providers adopt safer practices across farms in Lebanon.

Addressing the impacts of extreme heat through social protection

International stakeholders at the Global Labour Market Conference (GLMC) in Riyadh explored how social protection can help protect workers, including migrant workers across the GCC-South Asia corridor, from the growing impacts of extreme heat.

Lebanon moves forward on landmark pension reform implementation

Ministry of Labour and National Social Security Fund, and International Labour Organization continue coordination on the implementation of Lebanon’s new Pension Scheme.

Video

PROSPECTS Partnership in Jordan: Highlights from the year

Since 2019, the PROSPECTS Partnership has been strengthening opportunities for refugees and host communities across Jordan—supporting skills, jobs, protection, and resilience for a more inclusive future.

Decent Work Pledge marks new commitment to safety and fairness in Zimbabwe’s construction sector

In Harare, the ILO and social partners came together to strengthen safety, labour rights and productivity in Zimbabwe’s construction sector, formalising their commitment through the signing of a Decent Work Pledge aimed at driving inclusive and...

Lao People’s Democratic Republic launches its first social security mobile application

Developed with the support of the ILO-China Partnership Programme, the app represents a milestone in modernising social protection.

International Universal Health Coverage Day 2025

ILO highlights 2025 progress on social health protection

On International Universal Health Coverage Day, the International Labour Organization reaffirms its commitment to promoting a rights-based approach to achieve health for all.