ISSN 2477-0531 117 Asian Journal for Poverty Studies 1(2): 117 — 122 DOES CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ENHANCE TRUST AND QUALITY OF WORK LIFE OF WORKERS? Nguyen Dinh Tho 1* , Nguyen Dong Phong 2 ,and Tran Ha Minh Quan 3 1, 3 University of Economics HCM City,17 Pham Ngoc Thach District 3, HCM City, Vietnam 2 University of Economics HCM City, 59 C Nguyen Dinh Chieu District 3, HCM City, Vietnam * Corresponding Author: ndtho@ueh.edu.vn ABSTRACT In recent decades, corporate social responsibility has emerged as a crucial goal in business. Several researchers have agreed that it is a win-win business strategy which contributes to the financial well-being of the firm. However, the question of how corporate social responsibility contributes to the well-being of workers is still unanswered, especially in transitioning markets like Vietnam. Realizing this role of corporate social responsibility in business, this study investigates the impact of corporate social responsibility on both trust in organization and quality of work life of workers in Vietnam. Based on a data set collected from 501 employees working for various firms in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, the study finds that corporate social responsibility directly and indirectly (mediated by trust in organization) enhances quality of work life of workers. The findings of the study suggest that the government and management should pay close attention to corporate social responsibility and make efforts to communicate its corporate social responsibility mission and activities to their employees. Key words: corporate social responsibility, trust in organization, quality of work life INTRODUCTION In recent decades, corporate social responsibility has emerged as a crucial goal in business and several researchers have agreed that it is a win-win business strategy which contributes to the financial well-being of the firm (Amstrong and Green, 2013; Singhapakdi et al., 2015). In business, research on corporate social responsibility has not only come from different disciplines but also from different conceptual bases and level of analysis (Aguinis and Glavas, 2012). However, the question of how corporate social responsibility contributes to the well-being of workers is still unanswered, especially in transitioning markets like Vietnam. Vietnam’s transition to a market -oriented economy has produced stunning results: the country has joined the World Trade Organization; a fairly predictable and effective business system has emerged; and, a consumer society is gaining momentum (e.g., Shultz, 2012). Several international institutions such as Asian Development Bank, UNDP, World Bank, have championed Vietnam as a model for development. Even during the Asian financial crisis of the late 1990s and the more recent global crisis, Vietnam has managed to produce remarkable growth rates and has remained a favoured investment target. The emergence of business people and institutions has been instrumental to the aforementioned successes, yet Vietnam still has much work to do. The social responsibility of business is perhaps a crucial issue that Vietnam needs to consider. Firms doing business in Vietnam, as in other countries around the world should be socially responsible for their business behaviour. Realizing that corporate social responsibility is under researched Vietnam, this study investigates the impact of corporate social responsibility in quality of work life of workers in Vietnam.