Beyond Physical Safety: Integrating Mental Health into Occupational Safety and Sustainability Policies

Abstract

Factors like rapid globalization, market competition, digitization along with the expansion of service-oriented industries have transformed Indian work nature due to which workers in various emerging businesses are facing huge mental & psychosocial pressure. As per written laws or in other terms traditional labour laws provide protection against physical hazards but changing patterns of business is pushing for a change in old laws to adopt modern workers’ friendly features. In this paper titled " Beyond Physical Safety: Integrating Mental Health into Occupational Safety and Sustainability Policies" the author has dealt with the problem of old fashioned occupational safety and health (OSH) laws in modern India by critically examining the evolution of work landscape in India. The author has argued that while traditional OSH laws focus on physical risks & hazards like workplace injuries, factory accidents, etc., modern high-stress business sectors like gig economy, online services, IT, healthcare, etc. all demand serious attention to psychosocial risks & hazards as well such as burnout, stress, pressure, hectic time management, continuous harassment,  etc. Doctrinal methods of research have been used for critical examination, case studies, policy reviews & data analysis for exposing legal gaps in Indian labour laws and to suggest implementing a strong legal mechanism blending mental wellbeing rights along with OSH laws global benchmarks and UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8 on decent work. It would not only be beneficial for the employees & gig workers but the changed approach can transform the whole Indian business and industrial sectors as well by increasing productivity & long-term viability.