Despite the recent surge in interest and research studies conducted in the field of burnout, there is still no widely accepted definition of the phenomenon. Many authors have focused on examining burnout aetiology which did not seem to provide clarity needed for better understanding of the construct. Nevertheless, burnout and work-related stress are real phenomena widely observed by different mental health professionals. To this day burnout is not defined as a mental health disorder in the dominant diagnostic classifications. Variations of the burnout diagnosis have so far been introduced in national medical systems of Sweden and The Netherlands, both high-income and developed countries. In this presentation we argue the reasoning for (not) defining burnout as a mental health disorder, drawing on diagnostic classifications and critical reviews. This question is examined from the societal context of low- to middle-income developing countries where the socioeconomic conditions impose additional strain to already overburdened workers. We argue that limited work choices and poor socioeconomic prospects heighten the risk of labor exploitation. Without recognizing burnout as a valid psychiatric diagnosis, affected workers are unable to receive adequate medical care, despite the growing body of evidence and theory in the field. We discuss whether the current neoliberal worldview hinders efforts to define and include burnout as a mental health diagnosis, therefore shaping medical and social policies in ways that prioritize economic productivity over psychosocial wellbeing. The presentation also highlights gender and social class as additional risk factors of burnout.