World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2026: Focus on psychosocial well-being in the Public Service

“A culture that promotes well-being over stress, both in workplaces and at home, must be fostered through individual responsibility,” said the Minister of Public Service and Administrative Reforms, Mr Lutchmanah Pentiah, at the opening of a workshop themed ‘Let’s Ensure a Healthy Psychosocial Working Environment’, held this morning at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Public Service and Innovation in Réduit.

Organised in the context of World Day for Safety and Health at Work, observed annually on 28 April, the workshop brought together chairpersons of Safety and Health Committees to reflect on the importance of fostering a supportive and healthy work environment across the public service. The Secretary for Public Service, Dr Dhanandjay Kawol, was also present.

In his address, Minister Pentiah underscored the often-overlooked importance of psychosocial health in the workplace, stressing that a safe and healthy environment is essential for the effective functioning of public offices. He highlighted that responsibility for well-being does not rest solely with authorities, but also with individuals, who must contribute actively to creating a respectful and supportive work culture. Mr Pentiah further called for stronger engagement of Safety and Health Committees in addressing everyday challenges faced by employees.

Minister Pentiah also drew attention to the broader impact of workplace stress on families and society, urging public officers to promote balance between professional and personal life. He encouraged simple yet meaningful initiatives such as wellness activities to improve morale and foster cohesion among staff. Reaffirming Government’s commitment to enhancing occupational safety and health, he appealed to all stakeholders to work collectively towards a more humane and people-centred public service, ultimately ensuring better service delivery to citizens.

For his part, Dr Kawol spoke about the increasing impact of psychosocial risks such as stress, long working hours and workplace harassment on both employee health and organisational performance. He noted that traditional safety approaches have focused mainly on physical risks and called for a broader framework that better addresses mental well-being. Dr Kawol also pointed to ongoing reforms, including training initiatives and potential updates to existing legislation, to ensure that employee well-being is firmly integrated into a modern, resilient and efficient public service.

28 April 2026

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Topics: Health, Civil Service

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