An in-depth study released by UNICEF together with the Centre for Child Rights and Business highlights a wide gap between corporate public rhetoric and operational reality regarding child protection. Although more than 70 percent of companies across nine Asian countries, including Vietnam, publicly state their commitment to human rights, concrete implementation in identifying and measuring business impacts on children remains minimal.
The study, which surveyed 1,399 companies, shows that children, who account for one-third of the region's population, are often overlooked in sustainability reports. In Vietnam alone, 109 companies listed on the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange (HOSE) and Hanoi Stock Exchange (HNX) scored an average of 57 out of 260 points. This figure lags significantly behind the regional average of 77.7 points, indicating that the integration of children's rights into ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) frameworks is still in its embryonic stage.
Empirical data reveals a striking irony: while 83 percent of companies diligently report community initiatives for children, only 1 percent seriously assess the operational impact of their businesses on child welfare. Crucial issues such as protection against child labor and responsible marketing practices receive minimal attention, with only a small fraction of companies maintaining transparent policies on grievance mechanisms within their supply chains.
Silvia Danailov, UNICEF Representative in Vietnam, emphasized that philanthropic measures alone are insufficient. Businesses need to integrate children's rights into core governance to effectively mitigate risks, strengthen investor confidence, and ensure a more skilled and adaptable future workforce. These efforts are seen as crucial as international sustainable development reporting standards become increasingly stringent across many Asian countries.
As a strategic recommendation, UNICEF calls for a paradigm shift from mere administrative commitments to concrete action. This includes active government involvement in institutionalizing child-friendly business standards, as well as urges for investors to make children's rights a key variable in ESG ratings. By placing children at the heart of decision-making, corporations are expected to build a more inclusive and sustainable economic ecosystem for future generations.
