Human Rights

Human Rights Policy

The ITOCHU ENEX Group has adopted the "ITOCHU ENEX Group Human Rights Policy" (hereinafter "the Policy"), drafted based on our Code of Conduct, Declaration of the Group Code of Conduct and The Sustainability Policy. This Policy iterates our commitment to respect the human rights of our stakeholders and address negative impacts that may arise from our business activities.

1. Policy Scope and Our Expectations Toward Business Partners
This Policy applies to all worldwide executives and employees of the ITOCHU ENEX Group, including contractors and temporary employees. The ITOCHU ENEX Group also works on business partners and other relevant stakeholders to comply with this Policy.

2. Endorsement of International Agreement
We support international agreements on human rights and the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Labour Organization's Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. 
We prevent modern slavery, human trafficking, child labour and forced labor. We also respect the rights of indigenous people and the right of foreigners.

3. Legal Compliance and Respect for Internationally Recognized Human Rights
We will comply with the laws and regulations in the respective countries and regions where we perform our business activities in addition to Japan. If there is a contradiction between internationally recognized human rights and the laws and ordinances of a country or region, we will pursue a method to maximize respect for international human rights principles.

4. Management Approach
We will build structures to realize this Policy. The Sustainability Committee will oversee the compliance and implementation situation of this Policy.

5. Human Rights Due Diligence
Based on the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, we will implement human rights due diligence in order to identify, prevent and mitigate negative impacts on human rights and fulfill our commitment to accountability.

6. Remedy and Rectification
If the business activities induce a negative impact on human rights or if involvement in such becomes clear, we will strive to remedy and rectify that through appropriate procedures and dialogue.

7. Education and Awareness
We will provide appropriate education to all executives and employees (including contractors and temporary employees) and strive to raise human rights awareness in order to incorporate and implement this Policy in our business activities.

8. Strengthening Information sharing
We will report on our human rights initiatives based on this Policy on the ITOCHU ENEX website.
 

Efforts toward Zero Harassment

We adopted basic policies on human rights and compliance and created a compliance promotion structure that includes harassment. Five types of harassment (sexual, power, maternity, paternity and care harassment) are described under prohibitions in the rules of employment as requirements in the course of duties. Moreover, we have issued compliance programs and harassment guidelines and routinely conduct training and educational activities. We operate an effective whistleblowing system based on regulations that clearly define the responsibilities of various parties that handle reports. These regulations prohibit termination of employment and any other disadvantageous treatment of persons who use whistleblowers’ contact points and mandate confidentiality of information related to whistleblowing.

Respect for Diversity

We respect the diverse ages, nationalities, genders, disabilities, values, workstyles, and other attributes of our employees, accept the differences among them, to ensure that all of our employees are able to fully demonstrate their capabilities and personal qualities.
We promote many initiatives to continue to make innovative change happen, relying on the strength of our employees' diversity. 

Supply Chain Management

We have established supply chain code of conduct and seek to strengthen cooperation with suppliers and business partners in an effort to address risk management for the labor environment along the entire supply chain, including human rights, the environment, fair trade and corruption prevention. We are working to prevent incidents and make improvements.

Risk Management of Investment Projects

Prior to considering new important investment projects, we conduct ESG due diligence check on the seven core subjects (human rights related to forced labor and child labor, labor environment, safety and hygiene, and evaluation of impact of environmental risk, etc.) defined in the ISO 26000 framework.