How French social partners are advancing action on psychosocial risks at work

PARIS, FRANCE (ILO News) – Mental health has become a critical occupational safety and health issue. To mark World Day for Safety and Health at Work, the International Labour Organization (ILO), the University of Bordeaux and the International Research Chair in Comparative Studies on Occupational Health (CIECST) convened an international webinar on 28 April 2026 to examine how governments, employers and workers can better address psychosocial risks in the workplace.

The webinar centred on the findings of the ILO global report, "The psychosocial working environment: Global developments and pathways for action". Discussions highlighted the growing impact of work-related stress, excessive workloads, violence and harassment on workers’ well-being, organizational performance and labour market outcomes.

Drawing on experiences from Australia, Canada and Denmark, participants shared practical approaches that support prevention through social dialogue, workplace policies, risk assessment tools and organizational reforms. Speakers underscored that psychosocial risks stem from workplace structures and working conditions, not only from individual circumstances.

A strong consensus emerged around the need for concrete preventive measures. Participants emphasized the value of evidence-based policies, effective labour protections, healthy workplace cultures and meaningful worker participation to reduce psychosocial risks and improve mental health outcomes.

The discussions reinforced a key message from the ILO report: protecting mental health at work requires coordinated action by governments, employers, workers and research institutions. As workplaces continue to evolve, psychosocial risk prevention must remain a central pillar of safe, healthy and decent work.

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