Delegates of the 9th Global Conference for Health Promotion (9GCHP) in Shanghai discussed how healthy employment can drive economic growth.

Roberto Morales Ojeda, Minister of Public Health in Cuba, said at the session that Economic development should be human oriented. "The ultimate goal of economic development is to improve people's welfare," said Ojeda. He said that Cuba has established many policies to improve the workplace and ensure equal pay.

Cuba offers basic medical insurance for the entire population, including temporary workers. The country also attaches great importance to health literacy, where students can get education on health. Ojeda emphasized that physical and mental well-being will enhance national economic development.

Supreda Adulyanon, CEO of Thai Health Promotion, shared Thailand's healthy and happy workplace program which promotes eight principles - happy body, happy heart，happy soul happy brain, happy family, happy recreation, happy money and happy society - of happiness in more than 5000 workplaces.

He noted that productivity in the workplace has been improved through the program, while improving the health of the staff.

Caroline Mubaira, vice director of the Health Development Foundation of Zimbabwe, focused on the relationship between decent jobs and economic growth. For her, a decent job is not only about compensation, but also a means of dignity, stable family and economic growth.

Healthy employees should have autonomy in the workplace, said Mubaira, who added that with working mechanisms and funding, manufacturing efficiency can be enhanced.

Andrew Pleasant, senior director for health literacy at Ohio State University, is in charge of a small NGO, which attracted the participation of more than 6000 people and 1000organizations. He said that his NGO conducts pilot programs at community levels, including ones to control tobacco and sugar.

Valentina Forastieri, a senior specialist on occupational health, health promotion and well-being at ILO noted that the NGO has set up a series of frameworks to protect labors in dangerous working environments and promotes gender equality and the protection of juvenile workers. In addition the organization also offers health training to employers to improve health literacy and encourage healthy lifestyles.