Institutional Pressure and Seafarers’ Rights Protection: The Mediating Role of ESG Strategy in the Chinese Shipping Industry

Abstract

Moving beyond passive legal compliance is a critical challenge for the global shipping industry in protecting seafarers’ rights. Drawing on interviews with 32 Chinese shipping executives, this study conceptualizes Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy not merely as a disclosure tool, but as a critical “governance translation” mechanism. We propose a theoretical model where external accountability pressures drive the institutionalization of seafarers’ rights protection (SRP), mediated effectively by corporate ESG engagement. We find that this process is positively moderated by three boundary conditions: the localization of international conventions, the intensity of Port State Control (PSC) enforcement, and the maturity of organizational governance. Practically, the findings suggest that policymakers should prioritize the clear localization of international standards to reduce ambiguity. For managers, the study demonstrates that embedding SRP into board oversight and digital monitoring systems is essential for transforming labor rights from a cost center into a sustainable strategic advantage.