Mold in government buildings is creating a significant drain on the nation’s healthcare system and potentially causing long-term health damage to hundreds of public servants, according to a local physician who treats patients with workplace-related illnesses.
According to Dr. George Roberts, respiratory illnesses linked to poor air quality represent “one of the biggest burdens on the healthcare budget” through both direct treatment costs and indirect costs from work absences and diminished performance.
His assessment comes as government workers at the Tourism, Agriculture, and Education ministries continue dealing with the aftermath of industrial action sparked by working conditions documented in Part 1 of this investigation.
Dr. Roberts outlined the most common symptoms experienced by individuals exposed to mold: “Most commonly, one may have nasal blockage, headaches, eye and throat irritation, and skin rashes.”
Workers across multiple government buildings have reported similar symptoms throughout 2025. For workers with pre-existing respiratory conditions such as asthma or allergies, Dr. Roberts said the danger is greater.
“The respiratory symptoms may be more pronounced with underlying diseases,” he said, as long-term exposure can worsen pre-existing conditions and increase susceptibility to throat, nose, and chest infections, and that “irritation can trigger allergies and asthma.”
He also posited that workers who entered the government service with no respiratory problems may develop conditions that persist beyond their employment. In 2019, government officials described certain buildings as “somewhat unhealthy” in internal communications.
When asked about psychological effects, he said mold-infested environments definitely can affect concentration and mood.“Direct and indirect costs due to the management of respiratory illnesses are one of the biggest burdens on the healthcare budget,” he added.
He also identified the financial burdens posed by the cost of medical visits and medications for treating mold-related illnesses, absence from work and diminished performance from affected employees.
Also, when workers miss days due to mold-related illness or perform at reduced capacity, productivity suffers across entire ministries, he explained.
He further advised workers who may be experiencing health problems they believe are related to their work environment to consult with their physician and document their symptoms, including when and where symptoms occur.
Additionally, workers who are concerned about building safety are advised to report issues to their union representatives and request formal air quality testing of the workplace.
He also stressed the importance of scientific workplace evaluation to establish medical causation when workers develop health problems potentially linked to their work environment.
On November 27, 2025, Cabinet said there would be a comprehensive review of all 400 government buildings, a proposed new building code, and a dedicated maintenance fund.
However, the timeline for the implementation of Cabinet’s reforms have not been made public.
Part one of this investigation documented the presence of mold and infrastructural problems in a number of government buildings, to include the Ministries of Tourism, Agriculture, and Education, which caused workers at these locations to take industrial action.
