<![CDATA[Purpose - This paper aims to evaluate stakeholder engagement practices in sustainability reporting among publicly listed companies in Indonesia based on the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) 2021 standards, focusing on how engagement strategies reflect corporate accountability and transparency within an ESG framework. Design/methodology/approach - Using a content analysis approach, this study examines sustainability reports of the top five companies with the best Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance according to the Katadata Corporate Sustainability Index (KCSI) 2023. The analysis classifies stakeholder engagement actions into three levels: information, response, and involvement based on Morsing and Schultz’s (2006) engagement strategy model and the Stakeholder Engagement Matrix developed by Stocker et al. (2020). Findings - The results reveal that most companies still rely on symbolic engagement patterns characterized by one-way communication and compliance-based reporting (information and response strategies). Only a few companies demonstrate participatory involvement strategies that enable active stakeholder collaboration in decision-making. Sectoral characteristics strongly influence engagement levels, with industries facing higher regulatory and reputational pressures, such as finance, chemicals, and food and beverage, showing more proactive engagement than the plantation or logistics sectors. Practical implications - The study highlights the need for companies to move beyond compliance and adopt transformative engagement strategies that integrate stakeholder perspectives into sustainability governance. Building collaborative and dialogical relationships can enhance legitimacy, ESG performance, and stakeholder trust. Originality/value - This paper provides one of the first empirical analyses of stakeholder engagement quality in sustainability reporting based on GRI 2021 standards in Indonesia. The findings contribute to the development of a stakeholder engagement evaluation model in emerging economies and offer insights into how the depth and breadth of engagement shape corporate sustainability strategies. Paper type - Qualitative research paper (content analysis study)]]>
