Basic Concept
The Nisshinbo Group's Business Conduct Guidelines are a set of specific guidelines for behavior that all employees must observe. The first item in the Action Guidelines is "Respect for Human Rights." Furthermore, the Group takes seriously its responsibility to protect human rights as a corporation and thus established the Nisshinbo Group Human Rights Statement, which expresses the desire to respect human rights in words as the Group's management stance.
The Nisshinbo Group believes that human rights consist of the right of people to live fulfilling lives based on their own diverse choices. Companies have a responsibility to protect human rights and guarantee that people have the opportunity to make choices that will enable them to pursue their own happiness. By providing products, technologies, and services that protect people's safe and secure living environment, the Group aims to realize the well-being of society in which people, including Nisshinbo Group, and especially children who will live in the future, can lead happy and fulfilling lives.
Promotion System
Nisshinbo Holdings Inc. reorganized its organizational structure in April 2025 to establish an Managing Officer system for each functional division with the aim of building and overseeing a structure that would lead to urgent change. Under the leadership of the Managing Officer in charge of the Corporate Strategy Department, the Human Rights Group now leads activities aimed at realizing a society where human rights are respected.
The president of the Nisshinbo Group, who is the chief executive officer of the Group, conducts management reviews at the annual Board of Management* and receives progress reports from the Managing Officers in charge of the Corporate Strategy Department with regard to the group's initiatives. Based on these reports, the president issues instructions on the matters necessary for management. Special items are reported to the Board of Directors as appropriate.
* The Board of Management: Executive conference consisting of Directors, Executive officers, etc.
Please refer to "Promotion System for Sustainability Activity" for details regarding the organizational structure for promoting sustainability.
Specific Initiatives of the Nisshinbo Group
5th Sustainability Promotion Plan (to be achieved by FY2024)
In the 5th Sustainability Promotion Plan with FY2024 as the target year, the Nisshinbo Group set the following two items as targets and KPIs to promote respect for human rights as a priority activity and achieve the goals of promoting human rights awareness-raising activities and promoting business and human rights activities.
- ① Rate of implementation of Group Human Rights Training, 100% (In Japan), Implementation of human rights awareness-raising activities (In overseas)
- ② Develop human rights policy, introduce and promote Human Rights Due Diligence in fields with high human rights risks
In accordance with the 5th Sustainability Promotion Plan, the Nisshinbo Group established a Human Rights Policy in August 2023. As a foundation for human rights due diligence activities, the Group conducted a survey targeting 81 companies both domestically and internationally to assess the status of human rights-related systems and policies within the Nisshinbo Group. In addition, with the aim of ensuring 100% implementation of human rights training (with different themes each fiscal year) and promoting awareness and understanding of the human rights statement, in FY2023, Nisshinbo created a video message from the president explaining the background and rationale behind the formulation of the human rights policy and the Group's goals and distributed it throughout the company. In FY2024, The Nisshinbo Group also created explanatory videos aimed at promoting a better understanding of business and human rights and then distributed the videos throughout the company. As part of other initiatives related to human rights due diligence, Nisshinbo worked to strengthen human rights-related systems and remedial measures at domestic and overseas group companies. Additionally, the company revised its Sustainable Procurement Basic Policy in accordance with the human rights statement and is disseminating and implementing it alongside the Sustainable Procurement Guidelines.
6th Sustainability Promotion Plan (to be achieved by FY2027)
In the 6th Sustainability Promotion Plan, which targets FY2027, the Nisshinbo Group will continue to focus on respect for human rights as a priority activity and will set the following two goals to achieve promoting human rights awareness-raising activities and promoting business and human rights activities. The Nisshinbo Group will promote these initiatives with a focus on human rights due diligence activities.
- ① Rate of implementation of Group Human Rights Training, 100% (In Japan), Implementation of human rights awareness-raising activities (In overseas)
- ② Ongoing human rights due diligence activities (Identification of human rights risks and appropriate responses)
Specifically, starting in FY2025, the Nisshinbo Group will identify human rights risks and consider and implement appropriate measures for each risk. The Group will continue to focus on awareness-raising activities of group human rights training, training to deepen the understanding of different human rights issues, and training to prevent harassment.
Please refer to "Sustainability Promotion Plan and KPIs" for details regarding of the "Sustainability Promotion Plan."
Conduct Human Rights Due Diligence
In order to fulfill the "corporate responsibility to respect human rights" required by the "Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights" adopted by the United Nations, the Nisshinbo Group established a human rights policy for 2023 and is promoting human rights due diligence initiatives.
Through its focus on human rights due diligence activities, the Nisshinbo Group aims to raise awareness among all employees of their responsibility to fulfill the company's responsibility to contribute to the realization of a society that respects human rights.
Compliance with Human Rights Laws and Regulations
Based on the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the Nisshinbo Group will appropriately comply with human rights-related laws and regulations of each country, including the UK Slavery Act, in the countries and regions where the Group companies in Japan and overseas and suppliers conduct business. Specifically, the Group will promote internal awareness and understanding of laws and regulations in the countries and regions where the Group companies in Japan and overseas and suppliers do business and will promote appropriate human rights due diligence initiatives.
Slogan for Human Rights Awareness
The Nisshinbo Group invites employees of all group companies in Japan and overseas and their families to submit human rights awareness slogans in honor of Human Rights Week in December of each year, and the Group awards prizes for the best works. A unique feature of Nisshinbo is that the scope of recruitment has been expanded to include overseas group companies, resulting in the receipt of human rights messages written in a variety of different languages.
In FY2024, a total of 3,789 entries were received for the human rights awareness slogan contest, including 3,994 from group employees in Japan and overseas and 205 from their families. Of those, approximately 1,139 were submitted by overseas group companies. After that, rigorous screening was conducted by the Sustainability Development Department of Nisshinbo Holdings Inc. As a result, there were 14 awards, including the Global Special Award.
Prevention of Harassment
To prevent harassment, the Nisshinbo Group sets up "Harassment Consultation Counters" at the group companies in Japan and established a system in which multiple contact persons are assigned to provide consultations to employees. Each business site will appoint personnel who meet the requirements for handling consultations as consultation desk staff. Newly appointed personnel will attend the Harassment Consultation Desk New Staff Training to acquire consultation skills. In order to make consultation response more effective, we also offer training mainly through role-playing as a follow-up. The Nisshinbo Group is working to standardize the consultation skills of its frontline staff by requiring all personnel in charge of customer service throughout the Group to attend training sessions.
Since 2017, the Nisshinbo Group has provided anger management training for employees of all Group companies in Japan with the aim of preventing power harassment through appropriate emotional control and the promotion of good communication within the workplace. The training consists of two stages: basic training to learn the basics of anger management to better control one's anger, and scolding training for managers to learn how to scold effectively to promote the growth of subordinates. The Group aims to expand the scope of the course to all employees each year.
Starting in 2024, Nisshinbo added workshops on how to write emails and communicate with subordinates to the "How to Reprimand" training program. These workshops encourage managers to review the wording they use in emails and instructions without realizing it and consider how to communicate appropriately without demotivating subordinates.
Specific Activities of the Group Companies
Harassment Training by Legal Advisor
JRC Tokki Co., Ltd. provides annual compliance training as part of its regular compliance program. At the end of every year, the company provides all employees with the video training session titled "Harassment Prevention Training" led by its legal counsel. The content covers the definition of power harassment, an explanation of the six types of power harassment, examples of notable harassment for the year, case studies based on court precedents, and other topics centered on the basics of harassment. The training concludes with a discussion on how to eliminate power harassment.
A post-training quiz and survey revealed that participants demonstrated an understanding and satisfaction with the training, which confirmed its effectiveness. Going forward, JRC Tokki Co., Ltd. will continue to monitor the various forms of harassment, provide continuing education, and strive to eliminate harassment so as to build a healthier workplace culture.
Communicating Messages from Management Regarding Respect for Human Rights
JRC System Services Co., Ltd. recognizes that respect for human rights is a prerequisite for the continued existence of companies and businesses. Through the provision of products and services that safeguard safe, secure living environments, the company supports the foundations of people's lives, engages in human rights due diligence, and continues its business activities with a focus on respecting, protecting, and promoting human rights. In addition to the president's greeting and management policy on the company's website, the company disseminates a message from the president on respect for human rights to both internal and external stakeholders in conjunction with World Human Rights Day on December 10.
Furthermore, JRC System Services Co., Ltd. places great importance on ensuring a healthy and productive workplace environment where employees are respected. All employees are encouraged to be aware of the prevention of power harassment, and the president and executives communicate messages to all employees to ensure a safe working environment.
Going forward, JRC System Services Co., Ltd. will continue to actively communicate messages regarding human rights respect from the management team.
Promoting Understanding of Human Rights Through In-House Training
Nisshinbo Micro Devices Inc. implemented activities to further promote the understanding and implementation of Nisshinbo Group policies, in addition to Group-wide initiatives related respecting human rights, through training and measures unique to the Nisshinbo Micro Devices Group.
As part of these activities to promote understanding, the company conducted Nisshinbo Group human rights training for all employees, as well as human rights due diligence training for new employees and harassment training for newly appointed managers. Furthermore, the company conducted training that used a learning management system with the aim of deepening all employees' understanding of business and human rights as part of the group's unique training programs.
Nisshinbo Micro Devices Inc. also implemented the awareness-raising activities of creating and publishing videos on the results of human rights slogans and awards and re-communicating the human rights policy. Going forward, the company will continue to promote efforts to enhance the understanding of human rights throughout the company.
Efforts to prohibit discrimination and respect human rights
Nisshinbo Automotive Manufacturing Inc. of the United States conducts annual training for all employees on diversity and inclusion, discrimination, and harassment. In addition, the company regularly updates its anti-discrimination policy and recruitment guidelines to encourage respect for human rights.
The company created an environment where employees can consult their immediate supervisors, managers, or human resource personnel regarding matters of concern or issues that arise among supervisors, subordinates, and colleagues in the workplace. This policy makes employees responsible for respecting the human rights and dignity of their colleagues. Employees strive to respect each other and protect human rights.
During new employee training, Nisshinbo Automotive Manufacturing Inc. provides human rights training and shows a video from the president of Nisshinbo Brake Inc. explaining the company's human rights initiatives.
Harassment prevention training at overseas offices
Nisshinbo Mechatronics India Private Limited conducted an educational program on sexual harassment in the workplace for women led by an external instructor. The training covered topics that defined sexual harassment and explained the process for filing complaints and inquiries about sexual harassment. This was not a one-time training program but is conducted on a regular basis. Through ongoing training, Nisshinbo Mechatronics India is working to raise employee awareness and create a safe, secure workplace environment. In FY2024, the company provided training for approximately 100 employees in three sessions.
At PT. Standard Indonesia Industry, during new employee orientation, in addition to general orientation training, the company provided education on the various forms of harassment prevention. In the training on labor regulations and the code of conduct, the company included sections on harassment, distributed a handbook on labor regulations and the code of conduct, and provided additional education.
Implementation of harassment training for managers
Nisshinbo Chemical Inc. implemented harassment training for management and supervisors in January 2024 in response to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare designation of December as Workplace Harassment Eradication Month. A total of 43 participants attended the training at the Tokushima Plant.
In addition to reviewing anger management, the training covered appropriate language and expressions for supervisors. Participants brought examples of phrases they had spoken or received in emails when they were angry or scolded at work, and in pairs, the participants discussed how they felt when they heard those phrases and how they could rephrase them.
Going forward, Nisshinbo Chemical Inc. will continue to provide regular training for managers and work toward eliminating harassment.
Regular audits for Social Accountability 8000 certification
PT. Naigai Shirts Indonesia conducted a regular audit for SA8000* in May 2024 by BV (Bureau Veritas Certification), confirming that its human rights policies were being implemented. The company obtained SA8000 certification in January 2023.
In response to growing concerns about human rights and labor issues, obtaining SA8000 certification has become an important requirement for some European and American companies, making it increasingly significant.
The audit covered a wide range of areas, including employee interviews, the number of employees per restroom, and work schedules (hours). The certification period is three years with a final audit conducted in the third year to renew certification.
* SA8000 (Social Accountability 8000): an international standard published by Social Accountability International (SAI), a US NGO, based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, ILO conventions, and other international human rights and labor-related national laws and is aimed at ensuring the exercise of all employees' rights and their protection.
Introduction of a reporting system utilizing QR codes
Nisshinbo Do Brasil Industria Textil LTDA posted QR codes for reporting incidents in a variety of locations within the factory (toilets, breakrooms, cafeterias, etc.) and then established a system for employees to easily report incidents (harassment, compliance issues, fights, theft, accidents, etc.) from their mobile phones. In FY2024, the company received five reports.
Key features of this QR code-based reporting system include: ① Lowering the barriers employees felt when reporting incidents, and ② strategically placing the QR codes in locations where they can be easily scanned without drawing attention from others.
Upon receiving a report, the responsible manager in the General Affairs Department responds promptly. These managers undergo harassment and compliance training and are selected from a carefully chosen and limited group of employees. Additionally, a system has been established to facilitate easy contact with legal counsel.
This system enables the early detection and prevention of internal issues, which contribute to a comfortable, safe, and secure working environment for employees.
