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Massive murder of lives is being silenced by long working hours and job stress. According to a new report by the International Labour Organization (ILO), it is the psychosocial risks in the workplace that lead to more than 8.4 lakh (840,000) deaths each year around the globe.

Published earlier than World Day for Safety and Health at Work, the report, which has been titled The Psychosocial Working Environment, attributes these deaths in the largest part to cardiovascular diseases (such as heart attacks and strokes) as well as mental illnesses, including suicide. The most important risk factors are working long hours (more than 48 hours per week), job strain, imbalance of efforts and rewards, job insecurity, workplace bullying, and harassment.

The research approximates these dangers also take the lives of almost 45 million disability-adjusted life years and cost an annual world economy a value of about 1.37 percent of GDP.

In India, where long working hours are a normal practice in the IT, startups, and gig economy industries, professionals believe that the effect is considerable, yet no national data is segregated in the report. To eliminate these preventable deaths, the ILO encourages governments and businesses to restructure work policies and mental support, as well as implement improved work-life balance.