The Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) reaffirmed its commitment to supporting national efforts to strengthen workplace mental health protection and psychosocial risk management on May 16, 2026 [1]. The federation highlighted the psychosocial challenges employers face, including excessive workloads, burnout, workplace harassment, emotional strain, and blurred work-life boundaries [1, 2].

At the MEF OSH Conference 2026 on May 14, Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye stressed that psychosocial hazards are real occupational risks, saying, “These are not merely ‘soft issues’; they are genuine occupational hazards that can severely impact wellbeing, safety, and productivity” [1]. He added, “A workplace cannot be regarded as truly safe when employees are overwhelmed by unrealistic workloads and exposed to bullying, harassment, or chronic emotional stress” [2].

Datuk Syed Hussain Syed Husman said, “Employers recognise that safeguarding mental well-being is essential not only for employees, but also for organisational sustainability and business performance” [1]. MEF noted that psychosocial risks contribute to significant global economic losses. According to International Labour Organisation findings cited by MEF, cardiovascular diseases and mental disorders linked to workplace stress cause about 1.37% loss of global GDP annually [1, 2].

MEF highlighted the need for employers, especially micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), to receive adequate time, practical guidance, awareness, and capacity-building support to adopt psychosocial risk management measures effectively [1, 2]. Datuk Syed Hussain said MSMEs require support “to progressively adopt psychosocial risk management measures effectively” [2].

The federation emphasized that psychosocial hazards must be treated with the same seriousness as physical workplace risks and that workplace cultures must foster psychological safety. Employees should feel able to openly discuss mental health without fear of stigma, discrimination, or retaliation [1, 2]. MEF called for building a culture of prevention, empathy, and shared responsibility across workplaces [1, 2].

The MEF reaffirmation follows the May 14 conference keynote by Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye and MEF’s public statements on May 16. MEF is expected to continue promoting awareness and capacity building for psychosocial risk management in Malaysian workplaces.