As President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is expected to deliver his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, 28 July, the Institute for Occupational Health and Safety Development (IOHSAD) urged the chief executive to address the alarming rise in workers' deaths.

In its Midyear Report on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Workplace Accidents, covering the period from January to 2025, the IOHSAD reported 217 work-related incidents, resulting in 153 worker deaths and 255 injuries across various industries.

These figures, drawn from verified and credible online news reports, expose the critical state of occupational safety and health in the country, IOHSAD stressed.

Notably, “road traffic injuries” remain the leading cause of workplace deaths and injuries, followed by “violence and harassment,” “fire and explosion,” “electrocution,” and “collapse.” The most heavily affected industries are transportation and logistics/delivery, as well as the construction sector.

“These are not just numbers. Each death, each injury, represents a worker whose life has been cut short or irreversibly changed due to unsafe conditions that could have been prevented,” IOHSAD said.

“We must hold employers accountable. There can be no justice for workers and OSH rights victims’ families if those responsible for unsafe conditions walk free without consequence. It’s time to move beyond token administrative fines. Workers’ lives matter and impunity in the workplace must end,” added IOHSAD.

The workplace safety group then called on Marcos to pass stronger OSH laws and comprehensive protections for all workers, especially during extreme weather conditions.

It also argued that the government has repeatedly failed to issue mandatory work suspensions, merely passing on the responsibility to private employers "through weak and toothless labor advisories," putting workers' lives at risk, particularly those who are forced to report to work under dangerous conditions.

The organization further emphasized that the report's data only reflects a portion of the true scale of the crisis.

“If this is what is visible on the surface, then what lies beneath must be far worse,” IOHSAD continued.

“The state must invest in uncovering the full extent of the problem, and in doing so, it must also act decisively to solve it.”

IOHSAD then urged Marcos to address the alarming state of OSH in the country, which must be treated as a priority.

It also called for firm executive and legislative action to hold employers accountable when their neglect leads to worker deaths and injuries.

“As long as workers remain in unsafe conditions and the government neglects its responsibility to protect their health and safety, leaving it solely to employers who are driven by profit, the fight for OSH rights and safe workplaces continues."