Enhancing Social Sustainability in Malaysian Supply Chains: Integrating Occupational Safety and Health for Resilient and Ethical Business Practices
Keywords:
Occupational safety, health, OSH, social sustainability, supply chain management, worker well-being
Abstract
This conceptual paper examines the insufficient integration of Occupational Safety and Health into Malaysian supply chains' social sustainability frameworks, despite its recognized impact on worker well-being and economic performance. While Malaysia has advanced in sustainability overall, incorporating OSH into broader social responsibility strategies remains underdeveloped. This paper argues that protecting worker well-being is essential for sustainable supply chains, directly contributing to social sustainability and economic performance. The study examines the ethical, legal, and business justifications for prioritizing OSH in supply chain management. It draws upon international human rights declarations, treaties, and conventions, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the ILO's Occupational Safety and Health Convention, to underscore the fundamental right to a safe and healthy work environment. This model developed through analysis of existing literature and policy frameworks, aims to guide a more comprehensive approach to OSH management within Malaysian supply chains. By analyzing these frameworks, the paper highlights the need for a comprehensive approach that aligns OSH with international standards and sustainable development goals. Ultimately, it advocates for a more resilient and equitable supply chain framework in Malaysia, where worker well-being is central to sustainable business practices.
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References
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Mani, V., Agrawal, R., Gunasekaran, A., Papadopoulos, T., Dubey, R. & Childe, S. J. (2016). Social sustainability in the supply chain: Construct development and measurement validation. Ecological Indicators, 71, 270-279. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2016.07.007
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Narayanan, N. S. P., Ghapar, F., Chew, L. L., Sundram, V. P. K., Jayamani, U., & Muhammad, A. (2024a). Measuring the Unmeasured: Exploring the Concept of “Supply Chain Quotient” [SCQ]. Information Management and Business Review, 16(2 (I) S), 36-43.
Narayanan, N. S. P., Ghapar, F., Chew, L. L., Sundram, V. P. K., Jayamani, U., & Muhammad, A. (2024b). Optimizing Working Capital Management in Supply Chain Finance: A Multi-Dimensional Approach. Information Management and Business Review, 16(2 (I) S), 44-52.
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Suheil, C. S., Norlena, H. & Rahimi, A. (2022). The influence of social capital on sustainable performance: a context of sustainable supply chain management. Information Management and Business Review, 12 (6), 1344-1360. https://doi.org/10.6007/ijarbss/v12-i6/13917
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Tengku, N. A., Harlina, S. J. & Ramlah, M. T. (2016). Green supply chain: awareness of the logistics industry in Malaysia. Procedia–Social and Behavioral Sciences, 219, 121-125.
Thong, K. C. & Wong, W. P. (2018). Pathways for sustainable supply chain performance – evidence from a developing country, Malaysia. Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 10 (8), 2781.
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Allen, M. & Dibie, R. (2019). Analysis of the effectiveness of the occupational safety and health policy in three industries in Trinidad and Tobago. Journal of Public Administration and Governance, 9 (4). https://doi.org/10.5296/jpag.v9i4.15606
Alsamawi, A., Murray, J., Lenzen, M. & Reyes, R. C. (2017). Trade in occupational safety and health: tracing the embodied human and economic harm in labor along the global supply chain. Journal of Cleaner Production, 147, 187-196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.12.110
Bautista-Bernal, I., Quintana-Garcia, C. & Marchante-Lara, M. (2021). Research trends in occupational health and social responsibility: a bibliometric analysis. Safety Science, 137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2021.105167
Carter, C. R. & Rogers, D. (2008). A framework of sustainable supply chain management: moving toward new theory. International Journal of Physical & Logistics Management, 38 (5), 360-387.
Carter, C. R. & Easton, P L. (2011). Sustainable supply chain management: evolution and future directions. International Journal of Physical & Logistics Management, 41(1), 46-62.
Chen, L., Zhao, X., Tang, O., Price, L., Zhang, S. & Zhu, W. (2017) International Journal of Production Economics, 194, 73-87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpe.2017.04.005
Cunha, L., Ceryno, P. & Leiras, A. (2019). Social supply chain risk management: a taxonomy, a framework and a research agenda. Journal of Cleaner Production, 220, 1101-1110.
Danish, A., Yusof, Y. & Anbia, A. (2017). Safety culture and issues in the Malaysian manufacturing sector. MATEC Web of Conference, 135, 00031-00031. https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/201713500031
Dotson, K. & Henshaw, J. (2009). Integrating health and safety into the supply chain. The Synergist. https://www.aiha.org/publications/the-synergist/synergist-archives/synergist-archives-2009
European Agency for Safety and Health at Work. (2012). Promoting occupational safety and health through the supply chain: literature review.
Eyiah, A. K., Kheni, N. A. & Quartey, P. D. (2019). An assessment of occupational health and safety regulations in Ghana: a study of the construction industry. Journal of Building Construction and Planning Research, 7, 11-31. https://doi.org/10.4236/jbcpr.2019.72002
Fathullah, M., N R Nik Yusoff, Vertic Eridani Budi Darmawan, Yong, C.P., Eng, C. G., Er, S. P., Ying, T. M., & Hui, W. Q. (2021). Hazard and safety evaluation in construction sites in Malaysia: A case study. AIP Conference Proceedings 2339, 020183. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0045234
Ima, I. I., Mohd Razali, F. M., Ahmad, Z., Mansor, Z., Zain, S. R. & Shah Riman, E. N. (2021). Discovering the Malaysian consumers’ intention towards green practice. International Journal of Academic Research in Economics & Management Sciences, 10 (3), 2226-3624.
International Labour Organization. (1981). C155 - Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981. https://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=NORMLEXPUB:12100:0::NO::P12100_ILO_CODE:C155
International Labor Organization. (2022). Occupational safety and health in global supply chains.
International Social Security Association (ISSA). (2023). Improving safety, health and well-being in workplaces along global supply chains
Jain, A., Zwetsloot, G. & Torres, L. (2024). Sustainability, business responsibility and occupational health, safety and wellbeing in the future of work. Safety Science, 174, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2024.106463
Johanson, U., Aboagye, E. & Yao, J. (2022). Integrating business model for sustainability performance management to promote occupational health and safety – a discussion value. Frontiers in Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.3389/frsus.2022.950847
Kavouras, S., Vardopoulos, I., Mitoula, R., Zorpas, A. A. & Kaldis, P. (2022). Occupational health and safety scope significance in achieving sustainability. MDPI, 14, 2424. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14042424
Koskela, M. (2014). Occupational health and safety in corporate social responsibility reports. Safety Science, 68, 294-308. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2014.04.011
Lai, F., Muhammad Kashif Sad & Syed Quaid Ali Shah. (2021). SHS Web of Conferences 124, 04001. https://doi.org/10.1051/shsconf/20211240400
Lannetta, T. (2022). Occupational safety and health and social sustainability risk assessment in global supply chains. [Master’s thesis, Tampere University, Finland].
Mani, V., Agrawal, R., Gunasekaran, A., Papadopoulos, T., Dubey, R. & Childe, S. J. (2016). Social sustainability in the supply chain: Construct development and measurement validation. Ecological Indicators, 71, 270-279. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2016.07.007
Mani, V., Gunasekaran, A., Papadopoulos, T., Hazen, B. & Dubey, R. (2016). Supply chain social sustainability for developing nations: evidence from India. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 111, 42-52.
Marshall, D., McCarthy, L., Heavey, C. & McGrath, P. (2014). Environmental and social supply chain management sustainability practices: construct development and measurement. Production Planning and Control, 26 (8), 673-690
Mohammad, N., Smal, M. H. & Mahmoud, M. Y. (2020). Social sustainability strategy across the supply chain: a conceptual approach from the organizational perspective. Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 12(24). https://doi.org/10.3390/su122410438
Mohd Faiz, M., Badrul, O., Muhd Nor, N., Mohd Pauzi, F. N., Hassan, S. & Wan Mohamed, W. A. (2016). Social and Economic Concern of Supply Chain Sustainability, 160, 012073-012073.
Muhammad, A, Naidu, B.M., Sundram, V.P.K., Hussain, M.Z.S.M., Chew, L.L., Amirrudin, F.A. (2023), Sustainable Waste Management in Malaysia: Leveraging Supply Chain Solutions for a Greener Future, Information Management and Business Review 15, 3 (SI), 147-154.
Muhammad, A, Naidu, B.M., Sundram, V.P.K., Hussain, M.Z.S.M., Chew, L.L., Pillai, S.G., & Ibrahim, I. (2023), The Role of Logispreneurs in Advancing Waste Management in Malaysia: Towards a Sustainable Reverse Logistics and Green Future, Information Management and Business Review 15,3 (SI), 222-228.
Napsiah, M. S. & Faridah, I. (2012). Integration of occupational safety and health during pre-construction stage in Malaysia. Procedia–Social and Behavioral Sciences, 35, 603-610.
Narayanan, N. S. P., Ghapar, F., Chew, L. L., Sundram, V. P. K., Jayamani, U., & Muhammad, A. (2024a). Measuring the Unmeasured: Exploring the Concept of “Supply Chain Quotient” [SCQ]. Information Management and Business Review, 16(2 (I) S), 36-43.
Narayanan, N. S. P., Ghapar, F., Chew, L. L., Sundram, V. P. K., Jayamani, U., & Muhammad, A. (2024b). Optimizing Working Capital Management in Supply Chain Finance: A Multi-Dimensional Approach. Information Management and Business Review, 16(2 (I) S), 44-52.
Norazah, M. S. (2015). Consumer environmental concern and green product purchase in Malaysia: structural effects on consumption values. Journal of Cleaner Production. 132, 204-214.
Nor Azma, R., Munawar, M., Abdul Halim, M. (2016). The estimation trend of Malaysian SME occupational safety and health statistics. International Journal of Occupational Safety and Health, 6 (1), 18-25.
Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155). https://normlex.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=NORMLEXPUB:12100:0NO::P12100_ILO_CODE:C155
Schulte, P. A., McKernan, L. T., Heidel, D. S., Okun, A. H., Dotson, G. S., Lentz, T. J., Geraci, C. L., Heckel, p. E. & Branche, C. M. (2013). Occupational safety and health, green chemistry and sustainability: a review of areas of convergence. Environmental Health, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/1476-069x-12-31
Sivan, S., Anuar, R., Krishnasamy, T., Bahrin, A. S., Narayanan, N. S. P., & Sundram, V. P. K. (2024a). Optimizing Safety Practices and Culture: A Comprehensive Examination through Perception Surveys in Malaysia's Logistics Industry. Information Management and Business Review, 16(1 (I) S), 33-38.
Sivan, S., Anuar, R., Krishnasamy, T., Bahrin, A. S., Narayanan, N. S. P., & Sundram, V. P. K. (2024b). Integrating Safety Practices into the Supply Chain for Sustainable Development in Malaysia's Building Construction Sites. Information Management and Business Review, 16(1 (I) S), 24-32.
Song, Y. (2023). Integration of occupational safety and health management, social responsibility of business, and sustainability: a stakeholder-based qualitative study on China’s electric power industry. SHS Web of Conference, 163(02017). https://doi.org/10.1051/shsconf/20231630201
Suhaiza, Z., Jeyaraman, K., Vengadasan, G., & Rajagopal, P. (2012). Sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) in Malaysia: A survey. International Journal of Production Economics, 140(1), 330-340.
Suheil, C. S., Norlena, H. & Rahimi, A. (2022). The influence of social capital on sustainable performance: a context of sustainable supply chain management. Information Management and Business Review, 12 (6), 1344-1360. https://doi.org/10.6007/ijarbss/v12-i6/13917
Tan, Z. C., Tan, C. E. & Choong, Y. O. (2023). Occupational safety & health management and corporate sustainability: the mediating role of affective commitment. Safety and Health at Work, 14, 415-424
Tengku, N. A., Harlina, S. J. & Ramlah, M. T. (2016). Green supply chain: awareness of the logistics industry in Malaysia. Procedia–Social and Behavioral Sciences, 219, 121-125.
Thong, K. C. & Wong, W. P. (2018). Pathways for sustainable supply chain performance – evidence from a developing country, Malaysia. Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 10 (8), 2781.
United Nations (1948). Universal Declaration of Human Rights. https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights
United Nations (1966). International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/treaty-bodies/cescr/overview
United Nations (2011). Guiding principles on business and human rights. https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/publications/guidingprinciplesbusinesshr_en.pdf
United Nations (2015). Transforming our world: the 2030 agenda for sustainable development. https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/21252030%20Agenda%20for%20Sustainable%20Development%20web.pdf
Weisbrod, A. and Loftus, L. (2012). A Case Study of the Practice of Sustainable Supply Chain Management. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118528372.ch10.
Published
2024-10-05
How to Cite
Amirrudin, F. A., Kasdi, S. A., Latif, A. A., Anuar, M. M., & Sundram, V. P. K. (2024). Enhancing Social Sustainability in Malaysian Supply Chains: Integrating Occupational Safety and Health for Resilient and Ethical Business Practices. Information Management and Business Review, 16(3(I)S), 514-524. https://doi.org/10.22610/imbr.v16i3(I)S.4078
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Copyright (c) 2024 Faizatul Akmam Amirrudin, Saiful Azmir Kasdi, Azlin Abdul Latif, Marhani Mohamed Anuar, Veera Pandiyan Kaliani Sundram
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