Green Human Resource Management and Governance Performance: Empirical Evidence from Maritime Companies

Abstract

Title: Green Human Resource Management and Governance Performance: Empirical Evidence from Maritime Companies.
Objectives: This study empirically investigated the relationship between three dimensions of Green Human Resource Management (GHRM)—Green Recruitment, Green Performance Management, and Green Reward—and the governance performance (accountability, transparency, ethical compliance) of maritime companies, addressing a significant gap in the ESG literature.
Methodology: Adopting a cross-sectional design, quantitative data was collected via a structured questionnaire administered to 360 seafarers across 24 maritime firms in Rivers State. The reliability of the instrument was validated (Cronbach’s Alpha > 0.79). Data analysis employed descriptive statistics and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) to test the hypothesized relationships.
Findings: The path analysis revealed statistically significant, positive relationships between all GHRM dimensions and governance performance. Green Performance Management demonstrated the strongest predictive effect (β = 0.564), followed by Green Reward (β = 0.202) and Green Recruitment (β = 0.161). Descriptive statistics indicated a moderate implementation level of these practices across the sector.
Implication: The findings provide novel empirical evidence that strategically implemented GHRM practices are a critical mechanism for enhancing corporate governance within the maritime industry. This establishes HR systems as a direct conduit for operationalizing governance principles, moving beyond compliance to embed ethical culture and accountability.
Recommendation: To strengthen governance outcomes, maritime companies should formally institutionalize GHRM. This requires integrating explicit governance metrics into performance appraisals, linking reward systems to ethical and compliance achievements, and ensuring recruitment processes prioritize sustainability values alongside technical competencies.