Toray Group believes that respect for human rights is a fundamental rule indispensable to the management of the company. We therefore strive to promote and increase awareness of human rights issues while prohibiting discrimination in any form based on factors such as race, creed, gender, academic background, nationality, religion or physical characteristics in the areas of recruiting, hiring, positioning, compensation, education and retirement. In addition, we respect international rules such as the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the ILO Treaty and the United Nations Global Compact, prohibiting forced labor and child labor under any circumstances, and comply with the laws and regulations of each country and region in which we operate.
We have established a Human Rights Promotion Section within the Industrial Relations Department, as well as Human Rights Promotion Committees under the Corporate Ethics Committee that function both company-wide and at the office and plant level. In addition, we have appointed Human Rights Promotion Officers for each workplace; some 300 such officers dedicate themselves to making the work environment more pleasant and productive.
To help increase awareness and promote a correct understanding of human rights issues, we held training workshops and campaigns both at head offices and at each office and plant. The FY 2006 campaign, which took as its theme "Broaden the Circle of Human Rights and Workplace Harmony at Your Workplace," focused primarily on prevention of sexual harassment and bullying or "power harassment" in the workplace, as well as considering human rights issues in dealing with a diversifying workforce. In an effort to raise each employee's awareness of human rights issues we held training sessions for operational and administrative managers at each office and plant, and conducted workshops in conjunction with workplace study groups.
For FY 2007 we will focus on responding to revisions to the Equal Employment Opportunity Law and, given the diversification of types of employment, on promoting human rights for non-regular employees such as temporary and part-time workers.
Toray established Sexual Harassment Prevention Guidelines in 1999. When problems arise we swiftly launch an investigation and take firm steps both to help the victim and prevent a reoccurrence. In addition to educating our employees about sexual harassment through training seminars at each level of our organization, counseling services have been established and the Speak-Up Program (complaint box) adopted at each Toray office and plant.
We also undertake educational activities aimed at preventing “power harassment.”
2007 Human Rights Promotion Campaign pamphlet (left) and posters (center and right)
