Programme supports businesses in practicing ESG

A programme was launched in Ho Chi Minh City on January 16 to support businesses in Vietnam in measuring and implementing comprehensive ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) practices in human resources management to improve their competitive edge in the global supply chain.

Experts and representatives from businesses join a talk show at the event (Photo: VNA)
Experts and representatives from businesses join a talk show at the event (Photo: VNA)

HCM City (VNA) – A programme was launched in Ho Chi Minh City on January 16 to support businesses in Vietnam in measuring and implementing comprehensive ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) practices in human resources management to improve their competitive edge in the global supply chain.

The GEARS@VIETNAM programme is supported by Investing in Women, an initiative of the Australian government to catalyse inclusive economic growth through women's economic empowerment in Vietnam, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines. In Vietnam, the programme is jointly implemented through a strategic partnership between the social enterprise ECUE and the Business Studies & Assistance Centre (BSA).

It aims to raise awareness and skills of, and support for businesses in applying the GEARS (Gender Equality Assessment, Results, Strategies) toolkit, which is specifically designed for the ASEAN market based on a comprehensive diagnostic tool developed by Australia’s Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) in collaboration with Southeast Asian partner, with the support of Investing in Women.

GEARS assists businesses in measuring and strategising the management and development of their human resources, with results that can be incorporated into sustainable development reports. The toolkit encompasses 13 interconnected aspects related to gender in production and business environments, including recruitment, policies, compensation, promotions, prevention of harassment and discrimination, and ensuring gender equality across the supply chain.

BSA Director Vu Kim Hanh said that in businesses’ integration journey, adapting to global sustainability standards is essential, so in addition to the environmental factor within the ESG framework, BSA has also initiated a programme this year to support businesses in meeting standards related to the social and governance elements.

GEARS@VIETNAM provides the business community with valuable insights and feasible solutions to prepare for an emerging trend in ESG standards – the gender equality in the workplace, Hanh said, adding that this is the key to helping businesses attract investment resources in the context of new competition.

It is designed to help businesses strategically and comprehensively address gender, diversity, and inclusion-related issues in the workplace, ECUE Director Le Quang Binh said, noting that participating in this programme provides businesses with opportunities to gain solid validation and evidence of their social responsibility, thus supporting their ESG reporting.

Through reports and verification provided by GEARS@VIETNAM, businesses gain an advantage in improving their brands’ reputation, attracting buyers, and succeeding in export markets, Binh went on.

According to Maya Juwita, Workplace Gender Equality Director at Investing in Women, the ECUE - BSA partnership marks a significant step toward creating more inclusive and equitable workplaces across the country by combining the expertise and resources of all stakeholders./.

VNA

See more

The northern region of Vietnam is expected to experience cold weather and drizzle during the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday. (Illustrative Photo: baochinhphu.vn)

Cold, wet weather expected during Tet holiday

The northern region of Vietnam is expected to experience cold weather and drizzle during the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday, according to the National Centre for Hydrometeorological Forecasting (NCHMF).

Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam urged to embrace alternatives to plastics for sustainable future

A research group from the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) is sounding the alarm on Vietnam's plastic waste crisis and advocating for a transformative shift towards sustainable alternatives.

A coastal area under the nature-based mangrove restoration project in Soc Trang. (Photo: VNA)

Project helps restore mangrove forests through nature-based solutions in Soc Trang

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Soc Trang province, in collaboration with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Coca-Cola Foundation, organised a conference on January 16 to launch a project on increasing the coastal resilience of the Mekong Delta through mangrove restoration and nature-based solutions in the province.

Participants at the launch ceremony (Photo: VNA)

Ca Mau takes stand against illegal wildlife use

A campaign against the illegal use of wildlife was launched by the People's Committee of U Minh district in the Mekong Delta province of Ca Mau in collaboration with the Save Vietnam's Wildlife (SVW) on January 14.

Induced seismicity has been continually observed in Kong Plong district since 2021. (Photo: VNA)

4.2 magnitude quake strikes Kon Tum province

A 4.2-magnitude earthquake jolted Kong Plong district in the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum on early January 9 morning, according to the Vietnam Earthquake Information and Tsunami Warning Centre under the Institute of Geophysics.

The over 220 kg bomb is carried to a secure storage area in the central province of Quang Binh for safe detonation. (Photo: VNA)

Over-220kg bomb with intact fuse safely handled in Quang Binh

The Mines Advisory Group (MAG) in Vietnam confirmed on January 4 that its experts and mobile bomb disposal team have safely handled and moved a bomb weighing over 220 kg to a secure storage area in the central province of Quang Binh, where it will await safe detonation.