Integrating occupational health and safety into ESG strategy : evidence from Vietnam's leisure footwear manufacturing sector | |
| Author | Le Trung Hieu |
| Call Number | AIT Proj. no.PM-ESG-26-09 |
| Subject(s) | Social responsibility of business--Vietnam--Case studies Sustainable development--Vietnam--Case studies Footwear industry--Health aspects--Vietnam--Case studies |
| Note | A project report submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Professional Master in ESG (Environment-Social-Governance) Management |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | In the current economic context, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles are increasingly adopted and integrated into business operations, particularly within global supply chains. Within the Social pillar of ESG, Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) is regarded as a critical component, especially in developing countries such as Vietnam. However, in practice, OHS is often treated primarily as a compliance or reporting requirement rather than as a strategic contributor to overall ESG effectiveness. This gap is particularly evident in the manufacturing sector, including the athletic footwear industry, where factories operate under strong ESG requirements imposed by global brands such as Nike, Adidas, and Decathlon. This study aims to examine how Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) activities are currently integrated into ESG strategies within Vietnam’s athletic footwear manufacturing industry and to develop a context-specific framework to strengthen that integration. A mixed-methods research approach was employed, combining quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews with key stakeholder groups, including OHS/EHS managers, ESG/Sustainability managers, HR/CSR managers, and brand representatives. The findings indicate that while OHS activities are well established at the operational level, their strategic integration into ESG remains limited. Governance mechanisms are fragmented, coordination among functional departments is weak, and OHS data are primarily used for compliance monitoring and external reporting rather than for strategic decision-making. Leadership commitment and organizational culture also emerge as critical factors influencing organizational readiness for deeper integration. Based on the integrated findings, this study proposes a context-specific OHS–ESG integration framework tailored to Vietnam’s athletic footwear manufacturing industry. The framework emphasizes strategic anchoring of OHS within ESG, integrated governance and leadership accountability, balanced measurement systems, data integration into decision-making processes, and leadership and worker engagement. By translating global standards such as GRI 403 (2018) and ISO 45001:2018 into feasible factory-level practices, this framework contributes to both academic understanding and practical implementation of OHS–ESG integration within manufacturing supply chains in developing-country contexts. |
| Year | 2026 |
| Type | Project |
| School | School of Management |
| Department | Other Field of Studies (No Department) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Professional Master in Environment, Social & Government Managment (PMESG) |
| Chairperson(s) | Shah, Faiz |
| Examination Committee(s) | Ransom, Lakeesha K.;Brubaker, Richard |
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