The Oji Group respects human rights. To ensure that each and every employee has a correct understanding and awareness of human rights, we will enhance internal education by incorporating education on human rights into diversity training, position-based training at each company, and other training programs to raise the awareness of human rights among all employees.
The Oji Group believes that the responsibility to respect human rights is an important element of the global code of conduct. We have established the Oji Group Human Rights Policy based on the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and other sources to further strengthen and implement our initiatives on respect for human rights. We have partially revised this policy in February 2024.We have clearly stated in our policy that we will respect and support responsible corporate behavior as defined in the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and international human rights, including the right of indigenous peoples to “free, prior and informed consent,” and that we will engage in dialogue and consultation with the rights holders.
Under the policy, the Oji Group will continue its effort to uniformly introduce measures related to human rights and ensure that all domestic and overseas Group companies are made thoroughly aware of the basic policies.
(Please see below for translations of Oji Group Human Rights Policy.)
The Oji Group recognizes respect for human rights as a global code of conduct and we have established the Oji Group Human Rights Policy as our basic stance on human rights. We remain committed to respecting human rights and the diverse values of individuals, as well as contributing to the realization of a society in which everyone can manifest their abilities to the fullest.
We undertake initiatives to respect human rights in keeping with the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights endorsed by the UN Human Rights Council, the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct, and the ILO Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises. We also adhere to and respect international norms such as the International Bill of Human Rights (the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International Covenants on Human Rights), the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work,* and the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, as well as international human rights, including indigenous peoples’ right to “free, prior, and informed consent”.
If the laws and regulations of a country differ from international human rights norms, we will adhere to the higher standard, and if they contradict each other, we will seek ways to respect internationally recognized human rights to the greatest extent possible.
Moreover, as a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact, we support its 10 principles, and have formulated this policy based on advice from experts both inside and outside our group.
This policy applies to the officers and employees of the Oji Group.
We also expect our business partners and other parties directly linked to our business operations, products, and services to respect human rights in line with this policy, and will continuously leverage our influence over those business partners through the Oji Group Sustainability Action Guidelines for Supply Chains and other requirements.
We deliberate matters that are material to fulfilling our commitment to respecting human rights through the Sustainability Committee (Chairperson: Group CEO, Members: All Company Presidents and others) and monitored and supervised by our Board of Directors.
To fulfill our responsibility of respecting human rights in accordance with the procedures described in the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights endorsed by the UN Human Rights Council, we commit to conducting human rights due diligence by taking into account the perspectives of our stakeholders. Through such due diligence, we will identify, prevent, and mitigate adverse effects on human rights that may be caused or contributed to by our business activities or which may be directly related to our business operations, products, and services through business relationships, by conducting an ongoing dialogue with stakeholders. We also will continually verify the effects of these actions.
The Oji Group commits to providing suitable education to all executives and employees to promote the understanding and effective implementation of this policy.
If it becomes evident that we are causing or contributing to adverse effects on human rights, we will engage in dialogue with those concerned and strive to provide remedies through appropriate procedures. Additionally, in the event that our business operations, products, or services are directly related to adverse effects on human rights through our business partners or other related parties, we will consider encouraging these parties to provide remedies.
The Oji Group also will establish a grievance mechanism to provide remedies in accordance with the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights endorsed by the UN Human Rights Council. We operate a Business Ethics Help Line for consultation and reporting that is open to all officers and employees of the Oji Group, and also have established a reporting system through our website to handle reports from outside stakeholders. Throughout these consultation and reporting processes, we will ensure the anonymity of those seeking consultation or making reports, protect the confidentiality of the information shared, and take measures so that those involved are not subjected to disadvantageous treatment.*1
The Oji Group commits to engaging in dialogue and discussions with rights holders and other relevant stakeholders regarding our human rights initiatives based on this policy, while simultaneously receiving advice and assistance from outside experts on human rights.
We commit to making appropriate disclosures and reports on the progress of our initiatives regarding respect for human rights through our website, integrated report, securities reports, and other means.
Oji Holdings Corporation
President and Chief Executive Officer
Hiroyuki Isono
Established: August 4, 2020
Revised: February 26, 2024
To fulfill our responsibility of respecting human rights in accordance with the procedures described in the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights endorsed by the UN Human Rights Council, we are conducting human rights due diligence by taking into account the perspectives of our stakeholders. Through such due diligence, we will identify, prevent, and mitigate adverse effects on human rights that may be caused or contributed to by our business activities or which may be directly related to our business operations, products, and services through business relationships, by conducting an ongoing dialogue with stakeholders. We also will continually verify the effects of these actions.
If it becomes evident that we are causing or contributing to adverse effects on human rights, we will engage in dialogue with those concerned and strive to provide remedies through appropriate procedures. Additionally, in the event that our business operations, products, or services are directly related to adverse effects on human rights through our business partners or other related parties, we will consider encouraging these parties to provide remedies.
The Oji Group also will establish a grievance mechanism to provide remedies in accordance with the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights endorsed by the UN Human Rights Council. We operate a Business Ethics Help Line for consultation and reporting that is open to all officers and employees of the Oji Group, and also have established a reporting system through our website to handle reports from outside stakeholders. Throughout these consultation and reporting processes, we ensure the anonymity of those seeking consultation or making reports, protect the confidentiality of the information shared, and take measures so that those involved are not subjected to disadvantageous treatment. In 2024, we will conduct interviews with migrant workers at overseas offices in Malaysia, where the proportion of migrant workers is high and there are many production bases.
We deliberate matters that are material to fulfilling our commitment to respecting human rights through the Sustainability Committee (Chairperson: Group CEO, Members: All Company Presidents and others) and monitored and supervised by our Board of Directors.
The Oji Group continues to conduct human rights education to deepen understanding of the policy and enhance awareness of human rights.
As part of preparations for implementing human rights due diligence in FY2023, we held preliminary training for the procurement department, which serves as the point of contact with suppliers, to deepen their understanding of business and human rights. In addition, training was provided on “ Human rights initiatives directly related to corporate value” and “The basics of business- and human rights-related risk management ― What is required of the corporate sector today?”, with 2,547 Oji Group managers participating.
We have also prepared a new English translation of the Oji Group Human Rights Policy Handbook, which is available on our portal site, and use it for human rights education within the Group. We will continue to make efforts to improve awareness of human rights, such as by continuing to provide training and education.
A compliance awareness survey of all Oji Group officers and employees is conducted periodically in Japan to monitor the status of compliance awareness, including that related to harassment and other improper conduct, and compliance issues at each worksite. In addition, the Internal Audit Department conducts periodic audits of the status of compliance, including that of overseas Group companies. Moreover, we dispatch instructors and conduct compliance seminars, including that on harassment and other improper conduct, at the domestic and overseas Group companies to instill compliance awareness throughout the Group.
The Oji Group supports and respects international norms such as the International Bill of Human Rights, and recognizes the following items as important human rights issues and is working on them.
In its Oji Group Human Rights Policy, the Oji Group adhere to and respect core labor standards, including the elimination of discrimination in employment and work. In the Oji Group's Behavior Standard, the Oji Group stipulates that it will conduct its business activities while respecting the human rights of all stakeholders, including employees.
In its Oji Group Human Rights Policy, the Oji Group adhere to and respect core labor standards, including maintaining a safe and healthy workplace environment. In the Oji Group Code of Conduct, the Oji Group states that it will ensure the health and safety of all parties involved in its business by ensuring health and safety in the workplace and practicing safe behaviors.
In October 2020, we established the Oji Group Health Declaration, and under the leadership of our Chief Health Officer (Group CEO), we have been working to ensure the health of our employees. Since FY2021, the company has been certified as a "Corporation with Excellent Health Management (Large Corporation Category)".
Some of our overseas business sites are located in countries where HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria are key problems. The Oji Group is proactive in taking actions to solve these global health problems. We also implement measures to prevent health issues caused by excessive workloads and improve the workplace environment by conducting stress checks for mental health, reducing total working hours, and improving the utilization rate of annual leave, thereby reforming the way we work.
Going forward, we will also be proactive in taking initiatives such as support for local infection control activities.
For expatriate employees, we conduct medical checkups, vaccinations, and mental health assessments before dispatching, and we provide regular medical checkups and appropriate guidance during the mission.
Overseas offices are implementing health and sanitation improvement programs for the local communities.
In addition, overseas plantation companies provide medical support such as health checkups, opening of clinics and emergency transport support in areas where access to public services is difficult due to the medical situations of local communities.
The Oji Group's Behavior Standard stipulates that we will not engage in any acts of harassment, including power harassment and sexual harassment, or invasion of privacy, and that we will not allow others to do so. We have also established "Harassment Prevention Regulations" in our employment regulations, and are working to prevent harassment, which is a familiar violation of human rights.
In its Oji Group Human Rights Policy, the Oji Group adhere to and respect core labor standards, including recognition of freedom of association and collective bargaining rights. There are labor unions organized by employees in the Group, mainly at major Group companies including Oji Materia, Oji Container, Morishigyo Group, Oji Nepia, Oji F-Tex, Oji Imaging Media, Oji Green Resources, Oji Paper, Oji Management Office, and Oji Logistics, and labor-management agreements are made and entered through collective bargaining and labor-management consultations.
The management and the Oji Paper New Labor Union, the labor union with the largest number of members (a total membership of 2,287 as of June 1, 2024 with the union enrollment rate of 97.6%) have confirmed in the preamble to the labor-management agreement that they “recognize the social responsibility and missions of the company, admit that the improvement in employees’ labor conditions and the prosperity of the company are basically dependent on each other, and strive to cooperate to establish a stable labor relationship based on mutual trust and understanding”. Both the parties negotiate over salaries, bonuses, and benefit packages as labor conditions on an equal footing.
In addition, the company has established forums for sharing management information and discussing various management issues, such as the Labour-Management Committee, a forum for communication between labor and management, as appropriate, to build sound labor-management relations.
In its Oji Group Human Rights Policy, the Oji Group adhere to and respect core labor standards, including the prohibition of child labor and forced labor. The Oji Group's Behavior Standard stipulates that child labor and forced labor are strictly prohibited.
We believe that children's rights are vulnerable to infringement and that special consideration should be given to their human rights.
The Oji Group endorses the United Nations and ILO conventions on children’s rights, and takes steps in each region to ensure that children’s right are respected.
Celulose Nipo-Brasileira S.A. in Brazil carries out awareness-raising activities and initiatives, including on health, for students (mainly junior high school students) of local communities.
In its Oji Group Human Rights Policy, the Oji Group clearly states its support to and respect international human rights, including the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and free, prior, and informed consent. In the Oji Group's Behavior Standard, the Oji Group stipulates that, as a member of the international community, we shall respect the culture, customs, and values of each country and region, and shall work in good faith and in concert with the people of each country to develop our business.
In the pursuit of global activities, as part of respecting human rights, we will understand and consider the indigenous people's unique culture and history in business operations in areas where indigenous communities exist. This includes taking into account the local laws and internationally mandated rights of the respective regions.
CENIBRA provides support for agriculture, tree planting, beekeeping, and other activities to support the stable income of farmers in the vicinity of its afforestation areas. In addition, CENIBRA works with the city and local NPOs to support young entrepreneurs by providing free lectures and training, textbooks, meals, and transportation. Furthermore, CENIBRA is actively working towards local procurement of materials and goods to stimulate the local economy.