Psychosocial risks at work: The invisible threat to workers’ health

2026 Podcast Psychosocial EN_audio final.mp3

The psychosocial working environment: Global developments and pathways for action

840,000 deaths a year linked to psychosocial risks at work

Ensuring a healthy psychosocial working environment

World day for safety and health at work 2026

In this episode of the ILO Future of Work podcast, Manal Azzi explains how psychosocial risks such as long working hours, job insecurity and workplace bullying affect workers’ health, and what can be done to create healthier working environments worldwide.

Manal Azzi

Manal Azzi is the Team Lead on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Policy and Systems at the ILO in Geneva.

Isabel Piquer

Isabel Piquer is a Communication and Public Information Officer at the ILO in Geneva and a former journalist.

Psychosocial risks at work affect millions of workers worldwide, yet they often remain invisible. A new ILO report highlights how factors such as excessive working hours, job insecurity and workplace harassment can have serious consequences for both mental and physical health, contributing to more than 840,000 deaths each year.

In this episode of the ILO Future of Work podcast, Manal Azzi, ILO team lead on occupational safety and health policy and systems, unpacks what lies behind these risks and how they are evolving in a rapidly changing world of work. She discusses practical actions that governments, employers and workers can take to prevent harm and foster safer, healthier and more resilient workplaces.

Lunchtime Conversation MLC Day 06 Podcast.mp3

The implementation of the Maritime Labour Convention in times of crisis

Maritime Labour Convention at 20: The ILO and the International Maritime Organization reaffirm commitment to decent work at sea

114th International Labour Conference, 1-12 June, 2026

The Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, is considered a model of strong and effective cooperation between seafarers and the global shipping industry, and its implementation is all the more crucial as the high seas continue to face unprecedented pressures and crises.

Podcast guests:
Max Jonhs, former Shipowner, Vice-Chair of the Special Tripartite Committee of the MLC
Carlos Muller, Secretary General of CONTTMAF National Confederation of Workers, Brazil and Chair of the ITF Sustainable Transport Committee
Jainal T. Rasul, Undersecretary, Department of Migrant Workers, Philippines
Beatriz Vacotto, Head of the Maritime Unit, International Labour Organization

Max Jonhs

Max Jonhs is a former Shipowner and Vice-Chair of the Special Tripartite Committee of the Maritime Labour Convention.

Carlos Muller

Carlos Muller is Secretary General of CONTTMAF National Confederation of Workers, Brazil and Chair of the ITF Sustainable Transport Committee.

Jainal T. Rasul

Jainal T. Rasul is Undersecretary of the Department of Migrant Workers in the Philippines.

Beatriz Vacotto

Beatriz Vacotto is Head of the Maritime Unit at the International Labour Standards Department at the ILO.

Zeina Awad

Zeina Awad is the Head of News and Media in the ILO's Department of Communication.

The Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. It is considered a model of strong and effective cooperation between seafarers and the global shipping industry. Since its adoption, the Convention has helped establish a global framework for decent work and living conditions at sea and create fairer competition across the maritime sector.

But as the shipping industry continues to face unprecedented pressures, such as pandemics, geopolitical conflicts and disruptions to global trade routes, implementing the MLC has become more crucial than ever.

Social dialogue at 50: Lessons for the future

Lunchtime Conversation Social Dialogue podcast.mp3

Recurrent Discussion Committee on Social Dialogue and Tripartism, 114th International Labour Conference

ILO topic portal on social dialogue and tripartism

Saint Lucia ratifies Tripartite Consultation Convention

In 1976, Convention No. 144 established a simple but powerful principle: governments, employers and workers should shape labour policy together. To mark the Convention's 50th anniversary, representatives of governments, employers and workers, alongside the European Union, reflect on what social dialogue has achieved and whether it can continue to help shape the future of work.

Podcast guests:
Michele Cervone D'Urso, EU Ambassador & Deputy Head of Delegation to the UN in Geneva
Omar Faruk Osman, General Secretary of the Federation of Somali Trade Unions (FESTU)
Emma Hippolyte, Minister of Equity, Labour, Gender and Elderly Affairs of Saint Lucia
Ulan Tazhibayev, Advisor to The Chairman of the Presidium of the National Confederation of Employers of Kazakhstan “PARYZ"

Michele Cervone D'Urso

Michele Cervone D'Urso is the EU Ambassador and Deputy Head of Delegation to the United Nations and other organizations in Geneva.

Omar Faruk Osman

Omar Faruk Osman is General Secretary of the Federation of Somali Trade Unions (FESTU).

Emma Hippolyte

Emma Hippolyte is the Minister of Equity, Labour, Gender and Elderly Affairs in Saint Lucia.

Ulan Tazhibayev

Ulan Tazhibayev is Advisor to the Chairman of the Presidium of the National Confederation of Employers of Kazakhstan “PARYZ".

Guebray Berhane

Guebray Berhane is a Senior Advocacy and Public Information Officer at the ILO in Geneva. He is a former BBC Afrique reporter and Bureau Chief in Addis Ababa for Agence France Presse.

For 50 years, Convention No. 144 on Tripartite Consultation has promoted a simple idea: labour policies are stronger when governments, employers and workers help shape them together. Since its adoption in 1976, the Convention has been ratified by 159 countries and has helped establish social dialogue as a cornerstone of labour governance around the world. 

But as economies and labour markets are transformed by digitalization, demographic change, climate action and geopolitical uncertainty, can tripartite consultation keep pace? Representatives of governments, employers and workers, alongside the European Union, reflect on what social dialogue has achieved and whether it can continue to help shape the future of work.

Why a culture of prevention is essential for occupational safety and health

Lunchtime Conversation OSH Day 04 Podcast.mp3

Why a culture of prevention is essential foroccupational safety and health

ILO topic portal on safety and health at work

The Occupational Safety and Health Convention, or Convention 187, was adopted two decades ago. It is still highly relevant today, as the world of work faces new and re-emerging psychosocial and health risks linked to climate change, technological changes, pandemics and other challenges.

Podcast guests:
Anousheh Karvar, French Government Representative to the ILO and to the G7-G20 Labour & Employment and Chair of the ILO Governing Body
Kristiaan de Meester, Belgian employers' group representative
Joaquim Nunes Pintado, ILO Branch Chief Occupational Safety and Health
Catelene Passchier, Chairperson of the Workers' group, ILO

Garment workers operate sewing machines at the Dekko Design garment factory. (Bangladesh, 2022)

Anousheh Karvar

Anousheh Karvar is the French government representative to the ILO and to the G7-G20 Labour & Employment, and Chair of the ILO Governing Body.

Kristiaan de Meester

Kristiaan de Meester is a representative of the Belgian employers' group.

Joaquim Nunes Pintado

Joaquim Nunes Pintado is the Branch Chief of the Occupational Safety and Health and Working Environment Branch (OSHE) at the ILO.

Catelene Passchier

Catelene Passchier is the Chairperson of the Workers' group at the ILO.

The Occupational Safety and Health Convention, or Convention 187, was adopted in 2006. Two decades later, it remains highly relevant as the world of work faces emerging occupational safety and health challenges, including psychosocial risks and the impacts of climate change, technological change, pandemics and other global crises.

With nearly three million workers dying each year from occupational accidents and work-related diseases, this discussion explores how governments, employers, workers and the international community can work together to maintain and strengthen a culture of prevention in a rapidly changing world of work.

Lifelong learning and the future of work

Lunchtime conversation Day 03  Skills Podcast version.mp3

Lifelong learning and skills for the future 

ILO topic portal on skills and lifelong learning

In a world shaped by AI, the green transition, and demographic change, lifelong learning is key to supporting good jobs and more inclusive societies. But new ILO research shows access to quality learning is still deeply unequal.

Podcast guests:
Pedro Moreno da Fonseca, Lifelong learning specialist at the ILO.
Hannah Liepmann, Economist at the ILO.
Chaudhry Saad Muhammad, General Secretary of the Pakistan United Workers Federation.
Josephine Andriamamonjiarison, Honorary President of the Employers’ Association of Madagascar and member of the ILO Governing Body

Josephine Andriamamonjiarison

Josephine Andriamamonjiarison is Honorary President of the Groupement des Entreprises de Madagascar (GEM) – the Employers' Association of Madagascar – and member of the ILO Governing Body. 

Hannah Liepmann

Hannah Liepmann is an economist in the ILO's Research Department. 

Pedro Moreno da Fonseca

Pedro Moreno da Fonseca is a lifelong learning specialist at the ILO.

Chaudhry Saad Muhammad

Chaudhry Saad Muhammad is General Secretary of the Pakistan United Workers Federation.

Ibon Villelabeitia

Ibon Villelabeitia is a Communication and Public Information Officer at the ILO in Geneva.

In a world shaped by AI, the green transition, and demographic change, lifelong learning is key to supporting good jobs, innovation and more inclusive societies. But new ILO research shows that access to quality learning is still deeply unequal.

Taking place at the 114th International Labour Conference, this conversation explores how countries can respond to these challenges by expanding opportunities for training and reskilling, and enabling workers and enterprises to adapt to rapidly changing labour market needs.

AI and decent work: A moment of choice

Lunchtime conversation Day 01 AI Podcast version.mp3

A moment of choice: Harnessing artificial intelligence for decent work. Report of the Director-General

ILO topic portal on artificial intelligence

Observatory on AI and Work in the Digital Economy 

Artificial intelligence is already reshaping work – from jobs to skills to everyday working life. But will it strengthen decent work, dignity and shared prosperity – or deepen inequality and exclusion?

Guests:
Kostas Papadakis, Senior adviser, Labour Governance and Sectoral Policies Department, ILO
Janine Berg, Senior economist in the Research Department, ILO
Hannah Liepmann, Economist in the Research Department, ILO.
Valerio De Stefano, Professor of Law and Canada Research Chair in Innovation, Law and Society at Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, Toronto

Janine Berg

Janine Berg is a Senior Economist in the Research department at the International Labour Organization’s headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. 

Valerio De Stefano

Valerio De Stefano is a Professor of Law and Canada Research Chair in Innovation, Law and Society at the Osgoode Hall Law School, York University in Toronto, Canada.

Kostas Papadakis

Kostas Papadakis is a senior adviser in the Labour Governance and Sectoral Policies Department at the ILO.

Artificial intelligence is already reshaping the world of work – from jobs to skills to everyday working life. But whether this transformation strengthens decent work, dignity and shared prosperity, or deepens inequality and exclusion, remains an open question. The outcomes are not predetermined, but will depend on governance, institutions and social dialogue.

Taking place at the 114th International Labour Conference, this conversation explores what AI-driven change means for workers, employers and economies – and what a human-centred future of work requires.

How to plan for disruption in an uncertain future of work

FoW Podcast -  Strategic foresight FINAL.mp3

Using foresight to think and act upon an uncertain future world of work

Policy briefs on foresight and the world of work

Futures, foresight and horizon scanning - Foresight strategies, tools and techniques to anticipate future scenarios

ILO workers' activities specialist Rafael Peels joins the Future of Work podcast to explore strategic foresight - a methodology for navigating disruption. Learn how workers' and employers' organizations can prepare for an uncertain future.

Notes from a strategic foresight workshop run by the International Training Centre of the ILO, which map out the impacts of a theoretical situation.

Rafael Peels

Rafael Peels is a Specialist in workers' activities in the Bureau for Workers’ Activities (ACTRAV) at the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva. 

Justin Smith

Justin E. Smith is a Senior digital communication officer in the Department of Communication at the ILO.

From pandemics to AI to geopolitical upheaval, disruption has become the new normal. But how can workers' and employers' organizations and governments move beyond simply reacting to shocks and start anticipating them? In this episode of the Future of Work podcast, host Justin Smith speaks with Rafael Peels, workers' activities specialist at the ILO, about strategic foresight – a methodology for navigating times of profound uncertainty and change.

Rafael explains how strategic foresight tools help organizations build the "mental muscle" to deal with complexity and disruption, and how AI can support the creative strategic thinking this requires. We also hear from trade union and employer representatives who took part in a recent ILO strategic foresight workshop, sharing why this approach matters for their members and how it helps them shape the future of work they want.

Insights and ideas shaping the future of work

The Future of Work Podcast

Psychosocial risks at work: The invisible threat to workers’ health

The implementation of the Maritime Labour Convention in times of crisis

Social dialogue at 50: Lessons for the future

Why a culture of prevention is essential for occupational safety and health

Lifelong learning and the future of work

AI and decent work: A moment of choice

How to plan for disruption in an uncertain future of work

Psychosocial risks at work: The invisible threat to workers’ health

Find out more

The psychosocial working environment: Global developments and pathways for action

840,000 deaths a year linked to psychosocial risks at work

Ensuring a healthy psychosocial working environment

World day for safety and health at work 2026

Safety and health at work