Nearly half of Dominican workers suffer stress and anxiety, experts warn

Santo Domingo.- Nearly half of Dominican workers experience stress and anxiety linked to psychosocial conditions in the workplace, according to experts speaking at the Third Occupational Safety and Health Forum organized by the Dominican Institute for Prevention and Protection of Occupational Risks (Idoppril). Specialists said factors such as excessive workloads, poor leadership, weak work organization, and low wages are taking a growing toll on employees’ mental health and productivity.

Social psychologist Telésforo González explained that stress, anxiety, and depression may not begin as chronic illnesses, but can worsen when companies fail to provide healthy working conditions. He noted that the effects often extend beyond the workplace, increasing the risk of traffic accidents and other incidents. González also criticized the fact that less than 1% of the Ministry of Public Health’s budget is allocated to mental health, limiting the country’s ability to address the issue effectively.

Participants emphasized that stronger social support, better supervision, and fair task distribution can help prevent burnout and work-related stress. COPARDOM president Laura Peña Izquierdo highlighted the rise in commuting accidents, while CASC vice president Esperidón Villa pointed to low wages and workplace violence as additional psychosocial risk factors. Although the Dominican Republic has advanced occupational health regulations, experts agreed that enforcement remains weak and that updated legislation is needed to reflect current labor realities. They concluded that improving workplace mental health is essential not only for workers’ well-being, but also for national productivity and economic development.