About 45% of workers in the EU face psychosocial risks at work, labour and social policy minister Natalia Efremova says.

She opened a conference on preventing psychosocial risks in the workplace. The Ministry of Labour and Social Policy organised it for the European Week for Safety and Health at Work, whose theme this year is "Together for mental health at work". Health minister Katya Ivkova also took part.

More than 12 billion working days are lost worldwide each year to depression and anxiety linked to poor working conditions, Efremova said.

She said psychosocial risks affect more than the person who suffers and their family. They lead to more workplace accidents and sick leave, lower productivity and people leaving the job market earlier. The most vulnerable are people in sectors with high demands, constant contact with others and responsibility for other people: health care, education, social services and industry.

The dangers are growing because of changes in work, fast digitalisation, the arrival of artificial intelligence, remote work and constant contact between staff and employers. The minister believes the risks harm both people's ability to work and their motivation.

The problem needs to be discussed all the time, not only during safety week, Efremova said. She said workers need steps that help them feel better, and people should be able to speak openly at work about what worries them. Safety and health at work depend on social dialogue and on joint action by all those involved, she said.

Earlier in October, at a national scientific conference, Efremova spoke about artificial intelligence. It is changing the job market, professions, the skills workers are asked for and the relationship between employer and employee, she said.