Healthy work isn’t only about safety at workstations, but also about what sustains people throughout the day. This Labour Day, let’s reflect on what it really means to support well‑being at work. Not only by preventing harm, but by creating conditions where people can perform, grow, and stay healthy over time.

Joaquim Nunes from the International Labour Organization reminded us of a simple but powerful truth: “Nutrition is a health issue, a workforce issue, and a development issue.”

In his remarks, Joaquim highlighted how nutrition is increasingly emerging as a key piece of Occupational Safety and Health, encouraging a shift from focusing solely on workplace hazards to a more preventive and holistic view of workers’ health. He emphasized that:
🔹 Workers’ health is shaped not only by risks at work, but also by everyday factors such as access to safe and nutritious food
🔹 Poor nutrition affects energy, concentration, safety, and productivity, with ripple effects for individuals, businesses, and economies
🔹 Existing workplace practices, from meal breaks and canteen services to collective bargaining agreements, offer practical entry points to strengthen nutrition at work

The message was clear: workplaces are not just places of production. They are spaces where prevention, dignity, and resilience can take shape. When nutrition is meaningfully integrated into occupational safety and health, it supports worker well‑being while also contributing to stronger, more sustainable business outcomes.

Let’s continue working toward workplaces where health, nutrition, and decent work go hand in hand, and where collaboration between employers, workers, policymakers, and partners turns shared commitments into lasting impact.

Please watch the video below for more insights:

Healthy Work Starts with Nutrition: Rethinking Workplace Well-Being This Labour Day