The Role of Green Human Resource Management in Achieving Sustainable Development: An Applied Study on Industrial Companies – Case Study: Libyan Iron and Steel Company, Misrata

Abstract

This research aims to study the role of green human resource management in achieving sustainable development at the Libyan Iron and Steel Company in Misrata, focusing on measuring the availability of its key practices and their impact on the three dimensions of sustainable development (environmental, economic, and social). The study adopted a descriptive-analytical approach, and data were collected through a questionnaire consisting of four main axes (green recruitment, green training and development, green performance evaluation, and green rewards and incentives). The questionnaire was distributed to a stratified random sample of 100 employees at the Libyan Iron and Steel Company in Misrata. The results showed partial to moderate adoption of these practices, with the green training and development axis recording the highest mean score (3.84), followed by green recruitment (3.75), then green performance evaluation (3.72), and finally green rewards and incentives (3.62). These results indicate that industrial companies have begun investing in raising environmental awareness through training, but they face clear gaps in linking environmental performance to job evaluation and financial incentives, which limits the continuous promotion of green behaviors. The findings are consistent with previous studies that have confirmed the positive impact of green human resource management on sustainable development. However, they reveal local challenges specific to the industrial sector, including weak financial incentives and the absence of quantitative environmental performance indicators. The study recommends developing comprehensive green recruitment policies, linking training to career development plans, incorporating environmental indicators into performance evaluations, establishing an integrated incentive system that combines financial and non-financial aspects, and fostering a green organizational culture.