Nicosia, Cyprus. Workplace accidents in Cyprus have fallen by nearly half over the past decade, Labour Minister Marinos Mousioutas said on Tuesday, while warning that further action is needed to eliminate fatalities and respond to emerging labour market risks.
Accident reduction and Vision 0 target
In an address marking World Day for Safety and Health at Work, Mousioutas said cooperation between social partners and the state had produced “significant results”, with accident rates dropping by around 48 per cent between 2014 and 2025.
“Despite this, workplace incidents continue to occur and we must intensify our efforts to achieve the Vision 0 goal of zero fatal accidents,” he said.
Focus on physical safety and mental wellbeing
Mousioutas said stronger action is needed to safeguard both physical safety and mental wellbeing, noting that this year’s global observance focuses on psychosocial risks in the workplace.
He said the event aims to raise public awareness about occupational safety and health and to honour those who lost their lives due to workplace accidents or occupational diseases, adding that it should also serve as “a trigger for deep reflection on the goals not achieved and the lives lost”.
New risks and psychosocial challenges
The minister said technological advances, climate change and demographic shifts are reshaping workplace risks, and called for stepped-up efforts to protect workers’ safety and health, which he described as a fundamental social right.
He cited factors including workload, role clarity, autonomy and fair procedures as key determinants of employee wellbeing, and described workplace violence and harassment as a “serious problem” and a recognised health and safety risk affecting both physical and psychological wellbeing.
Staffing shortages and employee reluctance
Citing a 2024 European survey, Mousioutas said there is a shortage of specialised personnel to identify and manage psychosocial risks, while six in ten employees hesitate to speak openly about such issues.
He said this increases the urgency for coordinated action between social partners and the state.
What steps do you think workplaces should take to encourage employees to speak openly about psychosocial risks?