Jodi Oakman, PhD
Professor and head of the Centre for Ergonomics and Human Factors, La Trobe University
Australia
Sustainable Working Conditions: Critical to Support Decent Work and Long Working Lives in The Asia Pacific
In today's dynamic work landscape and ageing societies, the relationships between physical and psychosocial factors and mental and musculoskeletal health are complex. This presentation will explore interactions between work and health, starting from the premise that good work has beneficial health outcomes and supports productivity. Drawing on contemporary and emerging research, the presentation will examine the requirements for healthy work environments to support the creation of sustainable working conditions to promote long working lives.
Arif Jetha, PhD
Associate Scientific Director and Scientist, Institute for Work & Health
Associate Professor, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto
Project Director, Partnership on AI and Quality of Work (PAIQ)
Canada
Psychosocial Consequence of GenAI: An International Perspective on Worker Mental Health
The rapid adoption of generative AI (GenAI) is disrupting how work is performed, with profound consequences for the psychosocial work environment and worker mental health. Drawing on Canadian and international evidence, this presentation examines the state of science on the impact of GenAI on worker mental health, and how decisions about the design and adoption of the technology can shape different dimensions of the psychosocial work environment. Taking an equity lens, it will explore how worker, occupational, and organizational characteristics may determine who gains and who loses as GenAI adoption within workplaces becomes commonplace. Implications for research as well as occupational health and safety, labour policy, and AI governance will be discussed.
Masaya Takahashi, PhD
Director, Research Center for Overwork-Related Disorders
Director, Social Science & Occupational Health Research Group
National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health
Japan
Preventing Health Disorders due to Overwork and an Unfavorable Psychosocial Work Environment
Everyone needs to work while maintaining their health, productivity, and well-being. The reality, however, is so serious that many workers, particularly in Japan, suffer from Karoshi (cerebrovascular/cardiovascular disease and mental disorder). The main causes include excessively long working hours and poor conditions of psychosocial factors at work. These circumstances interfere with the quality of working life, as well as the growth of work organizations and countries. I would like to share our experience with you to help find better remedies.
Dr. Rachael Potter, PhD (Psychology), BPsych(Hons)
Lecturer and Academic Researcher
Psychosocial Safety Climate Global Observatory
Centre for Workplace Excellence
University of South Australia
Australia
The Role of National WHS Policy in Creating Conditions for Healthy Ageing and Decent Work for All
Ageing populations and changing work environments are reshaping expectations of what decent and sustainable work should look like. National work health and safety (WHS) regulatory policy frameworks hold a central role in determining whether workers can remain healthy, productive and engaged across longer working lives. This presentation examines how countries approach the regulation of psychosocial and physical risks, with a particular focus on Australia’s comparatively advanced national WHS framework. Drawing on evaluation findings, it explores how evidence‑based policy, clear guidance and strong regulatory systems can reduce harm, support wellbeing and extend healthy working lives. By comparing international approaches and identifying the mechanisms that lead to real improvements in workplaces, the presentation highlights why effective WHS systems are essential to achieving healthy ageing and decent work for all.
Sei Jin Chang, PhD
Emeritus Professor
Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine
Republic of Korea
The Role of Psychosocial Resources in Promoting Decent Work in an Aging Workplace
Many East Asian countries face rapid population aging. This demographic shift profoundly impacts occupational health outcomes by increasing the prevalence of chronic conditions and workplace injuries. To sustain productivity and employee well-being, organizations must shift from passive retention to the active cultivation of "decent work," characterized by dignity, safety, and self-determination. Psychosocial resources optimize work organization and the social climate, mitigating physical health decline and workplace friction by modulating cognitive stress perception. Implementing strategic interventions, including job crafting, flexible work design, and age-friendly institutional policies, is critical to transforming aging workplaces into sustainable, resource-rich environments. Ultimately, key psychosocial resources—specifically autonomy, supervisor support, flexibility, and recognition—can effectively buffer the adverse impacts of aging, thereby safeguarding the safety, health, and social integration of older workers.
Wan-Ju Cheng, MD, PhD
Investigator and Attending Physician, National Center for Geriatrics and Welfare Research, National Health Research Institutes
Associate Professor, Department of Public Health, China Medical University
Taiwan
Work in Later Life and Work in Older Adult Care
As population aging accelerates, the psychosocial working conditions of older individuals and caregivers are gaining prominence in occupational health research. Working is associated with better health in older adults, though work transitions impact mental health differently across socioeconomic groups. Among older workers, high job control ensures work sustainability; when paired with high psychological demands (characterized as "active jobs"), it predicts a lower incidence of dementia and lower mortality. On the other hand, home-based long-term caregivers frequently encounter workplace violence, leading to poor mental health. Policy initiatives should support late-life work transitions, enhance job control, and establish violence prevention protocols for caregivers.