16.9% of workers suffer from work-related psychosocial disorders

PETALING JAYA: A government survey conducted from 2023 to 2025 found that 16.91% of workers suffer from work-related psychosocial disorders, says human resources minister R Ramanan.

Ramanan said the survey, part of the National Occupational Disease Prevention Programme, screened 100,000 workers in seven industries specifically to evaluate psychosocial hazards at the workplace.

He said these hazards include high workloads, a high work pace and time-based pressure, which are among the main elements commonly found in highly intense work environments.

“The findings of this study provide the ministry with empirical data about the status of workers’ mental health to formulate more effective preventive strategies,” he said in a written parliamentary reply.

Ramanan also noted “technostress”, which he described as a new threat to workers’ mental health, caused by dependence, over-exposure or difficulty adapting to the continuous use of digital technology.

He was responding to Abd Ghani Ahmad (PN-Jerlun), who asked the minister for an estimate of productivity losses incurred due to workers suffering from anxiety or mental stress at the workplace.