Background: Racial microaggressions in workplaces are subtle yet pervasive forms of discrimination that erode mental health and violate occupational rights. In Malawi’s Lilongwe District, workers employed in predominantly Asian-owned enterprises report frequent experiences of discrimination, harassment, and occupational injustice. Objective: To examine how structural workplace factors such as discrimination type, comfort, fairness, and harassment predict distress, hopelessness, and suicidal ideation, framed through an occupational justice lens. Methods: A cross-sectional design was used. Quantitative data were collected from 380 Malawian employees via structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics, Spearman’s rho correlations, and binary logistic regression were conducted. Results: Discrimination type, low comfort, perceived unfairness, and harassment were significantly associated with distress, hopelessness, and suicidal ideation (p < 0.01). Logistic regression revealed harassment (OR = 2.10, p < 0.001) and hopelessness (OR = 1.55, p < 0.001) as the predictors of suicidal ideation. Conclusions: Structural injustices in the workplace directly undermine occupational rights and well-being, with harassment and hopelessness posing the highest suicide risk. Occupational justice interventions, including anti-discrimination policies, cultural competence training, and workplace fairness audits, are required.
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