Kuala lumpur: The Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting national efforts to strengthen workplace mental health protection and psychosocial risk management. President Datuk Syed Hussain Syed Husman emphasized the increasing challenges employers face due to rapid changes in the world of work, including issues such as excessive workloads, burnout, workplace harassment, emotional strain, and blurred work-life boundaries.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Syed Hussain stated that safeguarding mental wellbeing is essential not only for employees but also for organizational sustainability and business performance. He referred to findings by the International Labour Organisation, which highlight that psychosocial risks contribute significantly to global economic losses. Specifically, workplace stress-related cardiovascular diseases and mental disorders are estimated to account for about 1.37 per cent loss of global gross domestic product annually.
Syed Hussain also underlined the necessity for practical implementation support, particularly for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). He stressed that employers, especially MSMEs, need adequate time, practical guidance, awareness, and capacity-building support to effectively adopt psychosocial risk management measures. The ultimate goal is to foster a culture of prevention, empathy, and shared responsibility across all workplaces.
Social activist Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, during his keynote address at the MEF OSH (Occupational Safety and Health) Conference 2026, echoed similar sentiments. He emphasized that psychosocial hazards should be addressed with the same seriousness as physical workplace risks. He argued that a workplace cannot be considered truly safe if employees are overwhelmed by unrealistic workloads and exposed to bullying, harassment, or chronic emotional stress.
Lee further highlighted the importance of cultivating workplace cultures where employees feel psychologically safe to discuss mental health concerns openly, without fear of stigma, discrimination, or retaliation.