France: Publication of the 2026–2030 Occupational Health Plan

On June 5, the Minister of Labor and Solidarity unveiled the Occupational Health Plan (PST) 2026–2030 to the National Advisory Council on Working Conditions. This new roadmap reflects the government’s five key priorities in this area, namely:

1. Preventing serious and fatal workplace accidents—particularly among young people and temporary workers—through initial and continuing training in occupational health and by strengthening their onboarding process in the workplace;
2. Promoting women’s health in the workplace, notably through gender-specific occupational risk assessments, the adaptation of personal protective equipment, and combating sexual and gender-based violence in the workplace;
3. Addressing emerging occupational health challenges by equipping employers and occupational health and safety services to deal with risks associated with climate change and addictive behaviors;
4. Preventing absenteeism through a proactive approach focused on prevention and support for all stakeholders;
5. Promoting mental health and preventing psychosocial risks, notably by strengthening first-aid training in mental health in the workplace and by implementing the charter of commitments launched in 2025.

In addition to preventing occupational risks and promoting a culture of prevention, the PST places particular emphasis on preserving health throughout one’s working life. Indeed, one of the plan’s objectives is to better support workers facing the risks of occupational disengagement or burnout. This would be achieved through a series of measures, such as prescribing therapeutic part-time work to help employees with chronic illnesses remain in the workforce, or using an index to identify the risk of occupational disengagement (IRDP).

Anticipating and managing crises and emerging risks is also a key focus of this new plan. Improving systems for monitoring, early warning, and crisis management in the workplace would involve, for example, strengthening the National Network for the Surveillance and Prevention of Occupational and Environmental Diseases (RNV3PE). This new PST also relies on academic research and, in particular, supports the development of regional university chairs specializing in occupational health and safety.

“Ensuring good working conditions, especially in times of major transformation, is an indisputable achievement and a prerequisite. This therefore meansgoing further in terms of prevention and broadening the range of occupational risks to be taken into account. I am thinking of mental health in the workplace, women’s health—including the fight against gender-based and sexual violence in the workplace—the protection of new hires, and more specifically young people, who by definition are more exposed to the risk of accidents.” Jean-Pierre FARANDOU, Minister of Labor and Solidarity, editorial for the 2026–2030 Occupational Health Plan.

Learn more about the 2026–2030 Occupational Health Plan (French)