The Nichirei Group is constantly trying to create new customer value. It does so under the Group’s corporate vision of “continuing to support good eating habits and health by leveraging our state-of-the-art manufacturing practices that optimize nature’s bounty, along with our leading-edge logistics services.” At the same time, we are helping find solutions to challenges facing our society, in an effort to be an indispensable member of society.
Recognizing that our business processes may have a direct or even an indirect effect on human rights, we have instituted the Nichirei Group Human Rights Policy, based on the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Our policy guides us as we seek to fulfill our responsibility to respect the human rights of all our stakeholders.

Human Rights Policy

In addressing the consideration of human rights in our business activities, the Nichirei Group recognizes that through our business activities in Japan and overseas, we may have various impacts on society and the environment, including our supply chain, and we wish to build appropriate relationships with our stakeholders in terms of society and the environment. The Human Rights Policy was established in April 2019 and revised in April 2022 based on the establishment of the Nichirei Group Sustainability Policy "Nichirei Pledge". Issues related to human rights are discussed by the Group Sustainability Committee.

External Communications

Participation in Stakeholder Engagement Program

The company participated in the 2019-2023 Caux Round Table Stakeholder Engagement Program. In this context, the committee also held in-depth discussions on how to address human rights issues as well as identify human rights issues specific to the food industry and logistics business, including issues raised by NGOs and others, and the exchange of opinions among companies.
The results will be used in our human rights efforts and we will continue to conduct stakeholder engagement to identify industry-specific human rights issues.

The report of stakeholder engagement program can be downloaded from the web site of CRT Japan.

We also participated annually from 2019 to 2023 in the International Conference on Business and Human Rights (organized by the Japanese Committee of the CRT), which is attended by domestic and international NPOs/NGOs and human rights experts.

Human Rights Initiatives

At the Nichirei Group, we understand that our business activities, from research and development to procurement and provision of products and services, have potential or actual impacts on human rights. In line with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, we carry out due diligence to identify, prevent and mitigate adverse impacts on the human rights of people involved in the Nichirei Group’s business activities.

Human Rights Due Diligence for Foreign Technical Interns and Specified Skilled Workers

The Nichirei Group accepts foreign technical interns at its food factories in Japan. As a responsible host company, we provide various forms of support to ensure that interns can live safe, healthy and fulfilling lives, both mentally and physically. We arrange their living environment, offer safety training and provide language support, including multilingual signage in factories. We also work closely and exchange information with supervising organizations that introduce interns to us.
In October and November 2022, we conducted a survey* on the actual conditions of foreign technical interns and specified skilled workers with the support of NPO Caux Round Table Japan (Executive Director: Ishida Hiroshi). Based on the issues identified in the survey, we have taken appropriate steps to improve conditions, such as installing personal lockers in intern residences and reimbursing the expenses interns paid in their home countries during their recruitment. We are also implementing a PDCA cycle for human rights due diligence.
Amid ongoing revision of our system for technical interns and specified skilled workers, in August 2023 we held a study session with an external lecturer, Shoichiro Ikebe of Worlding Inc. A total of 51 people from the human resource and sustainability departments of the Head Office and factories participated in the study session, deepening their understanding of the proper functioning of the system as a host company, ways to improve communication with nonJapanese workers, and examples of unforeseen human rights violations.

• * survey conducted October-November 2022

Discussing the Introduction of a Grievance Mechanism

The Nichirei Group has been operating an internal whistleblower hotline and consultation service (Nichirei Hotline) since October 2003 to allow employees to report and seek advice on actions that violate laws, regulations, the Articles of Incorporation, or internal rules, including human rights violations, as well as actions that raise social or ethical concerns. We also recognize the need to set up a system and contact points that function as a grievance mechanism enabling employees of the Nichirei Group’s business partners and suppliers to report human rights violations, either personally or through a representative, and are currently discussing this issue.

Ten Sedex Member Companies in the Food and Beverage Industry Form Working Team to Promote Human Rights Due Diligence in the Supply Chain

Ten companies in the food and beverage industry, including Nichirei Foods, which joined the Supplier Ethical Data Exchange (“Sedex”), have formed the Sedex Working Team of Buyers in the Food and Beverage Industry. Promoting the common use and standardization of Sedex within the food and beverage industry, the team has also been promoting membership of Sedex through initiatives including briefing sessions for suppliers in January and February 2023 and for companies that have trading company functions as of July 2023.

• Note:Nichirei Foods has been a member of Sedex, a non-profit organization dedicated to the realization of ethical and responsible business practices in the global supply chain, since July 2019. All factories owned by Nichirei Foods in Japan underwent Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audits (SMETA) in FY2022.

Initiatives for Human Rights of Employees

The Nichirei Group is aware that, when it comes to operating a global business, respecting the human rights not only of the Group’s employees, but also all stakeholders involved in its businesses is absolutely essential, and that this philosophy applies to all people and companies. Based on this way of thinking, the Group has referenced both the “ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work”^＊1 and the “UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights”^＊2, among other international human rights standards, and sets forth the Group’s Code of Conduct as follows. The Nichirei Group respects human rights and does not discriminate at all based on race, skin color, gender, religion, political views, nationality, social status, background, or any other factor. The Nichirei Group rejects all forms of forced labor and child labor. Furthermore, discriminatory behavior, violent behavior, sexual harassment, power harassment, and other such behavior is forbidden, and regulatory standards are adhered to with regards to wages (including legal allowances) and working hours.

• ＊1All member nations pledge to respect, promote, and realize the obligation to eliminate discrimination in hiring and employment, implement effective abolition of child labor, forbid forced labor, and effectively approve freedom of association and the right of collective bargaining.
• ＊2Established by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General John Ruggie with the objective of enforcing the “Protect, Respect and Remedy” framework established to strengthen the standards and customs related to multinational firms’ businesses and human rights.

As for informing employees about human rights, we are working to disseminate information related to human rights on the company intranet.

Regarding employee education on human rights, e-learning on "Business and Human Rights" is provided to all employees once a year to coincide with World Human Rights Day.

Labor–management relations

In order to support the sound development of the Nichirei Group, the Nichirei Labor Union strives to ensure that the individual rights of every union member are respected. This is based on the principle of equality among members of labor and management, as well as the union’s vision of a workplace environment with mutual incentives to work.
The union considers labor–management negotiations to be important. It thus narrows down the demands of its members and pushes for workplace improvements, all the while maintaining a productive relationship with management.

Internal Whistleblower Hotline and Consultation Service

Number of whistleblower reports and consultations regarding human rights issues

Study Sessions on Sustainability for Management

Since FY2023, we have invited experts to participate in study sessions for management (6 sessions in total in FY2023 and 3 sessions in total in FY2024).
By hosting study sessions, the awareness of human rights issues and DE&I (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) among the supply chain are raised.