Nitto Group Report 2017

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16Nitto Group Report 2017Deepening Our Understanding of ComplianceThe Nitto Group denes compliance as actions that are carried out in accordance with social rules, as well as relevant laws/regulations and internal rules, and conform to corporate ethics, and we demand that such actions be taken. We distribute the “Nitto Group Business Conduct Guidelines,” which are available in 16 different languages, to all of our employees, irrespective of culture, custom, or nationality, and oblige every employee to receive training on the Guidelines as a part of our new employee orientation.At yearly CSR workshops held for directors and management-level employees, participants are encouraged not to stop at merely practicing compliance, but to play an active role in monitoring and preventing injustices. In scal 2016, a total of 152 workshops were held in 20 countries on such topics as “export/import control” and “information security measures,” both of which can risk violation of relevant laws or incur accidents unless due care is taken. The total of 2,540 attendees deepened their understanding of compliance as they were reminded of its importance through case studies and group discussions.In FY2016, there were no violations of any law or regulation involving our business activities, including those concerning environmental conservation and product management.Reporting and Counseling System on Corporate EthicsTo facilitate early detection of law/regulation violations and ethical issues and ensure instantaneous action against them, we have a reporting and counseling system that allows employees to contact the CSR Department directly. Contact information is noted in the “Nitto Group Business Conduct Guidelines.” All employees of the Group may avail themselves of this service if they nd it difcult to consult with their superiors or the relevant departments at their respective Group Compliance and Human Rights Enlightenment ActivitiesESG Issue 3Corporate scandals are liable to occur if we forget to fulll social demands as a good corporate citizen and fail to reect on our own actions. At the Nitto Group, we distribute the “Nitto Group Business Conduct Guidelines,” which exemplify compliant actions under various circumstances, to all of our employees, including directors and those on the management level, and encourage them to refer to those Guidelines in any situation. Compliance is also ensured throughout our supply chains. Furthermore, we consider the promotion of human rights a part of compliance activities, and work accordingly in support of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.companies. Also, though limited, employees can make use of independent reporting systems, and several reports are made each year. We believe that, when employees assume it is natural to speak out about anything that they think is “not right,” ours will be a workplace in which not a single sign of injustice will be overlooked. In scal 2016, there were no issues concerning duty of disclosure under the Commercial Code of Japan. However, we did receive 14 reports concerning labor disputes, human rights violations, and dishonesty through this system. We have settled these issues after carefully interviewing the parties involved, while ensuring the protection of all whistleblowers.Ban on Child Labor and Forced LaborThe Nitto Group clearly states its ban on child labor and forced labor in its Business Conduct Guidelines and has all Group companies follow suit. We also ask our business partners to comply with this policy in the “CSR-Based Procurement Guidelines.” Starting from scal 2017, we began checking whether new suppliers are CSR conscious beforehand.In scal 2016, we had no issues with child labor or forced labor.Human Rights Enlightenment ActivitiesEndorsing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Nitto Group has established its own Basic Policy on Human Rights. Twice annually, at the beginning of each new scal year and on Human Rights Day, a message from the Nitto Group Central Human Rights Enlightenment Committee Chairman reminds the entire Group to protect human rights.In Japan, each plant/ofce and Group company appoints a person in charge of human rights promotion, who regularly attends conferences and training sessions to share any issues. Such individuals organize human rights workshops at their respective plants/ofces/companies in order to help all employees to deepen their understanding of human rights. In scal 2016, training sessions on “Diversity,” which included viewing of an informative DVD, were given at each location.In other countries, too, similar programs are offered to address the human rights issues unique to each country and region. In the United States, for example, training sessions on different forms of harassment are given separately to management-level and non-management-level employees every year.CSR workshop in Thailand