Challenges and Opportunities of ESG Implementation in Recruitment and Retention: A Qualitative Study on Sustainable Companies in Makassar, Indonesia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59971/jumawa.v3i1.331Keywords:
ESG implementation, Sustainable Human Resource Management, Recruitment, Retention, MakassarAbstract
This study explores the challenges and opportunities of implementing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles in recruitment and retention practices among sustainable companies in Makassar, Indonesia. Using a qualitative research design, data were collected through in-depth interviews with HR managers, sustainability officers, and executives from eight sustainability-oriented organizations, supported by document analysis of corporate policies and reports. The findings reveal that ESG awareness is growing within organizations; however, its integration into human resource management remains limited and fragmented. Recruitment processes often lack structured frameworks to assess ESG-related competencies, while retention is hindered by inconsistencies between corporate sustainability claims and actual practices. Leadership commitment and governance quality were identified as critical enablers of successful ESG-HR alignment. The study underscores the importance of embedding ESG principles into HR strategies to strengthen organizational sustainability and employee engagement. It also highlights the need for localized ESG frameworks that reflect Indonesia’s unique economic, cultural, and regulatory contexts.
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