Respect for Human Rights
In order to practice business activities in which respect for human rights is regarded as the most important challenge for the whole supply chain, we promote human rights awareness activities for the entire group.
In May 2022, we signed the The United Nations Global Compact and endorsed its ten principles relating to human rights protection, the elimination of unfair labor practices, environmental response, and the prevention of corruption, and we are engaged in various initiatives to realize these principles.
Based upon our “Mission” and “Business Principles” we formulated the “Taiheiyo Cement Group Human Rights Policy” in March 2025. It supports and respects the "Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights" advocated by the United Nations, the International Bill of Human Rights*, and the "ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work" and serves as a concrete guideline that stipulates the expression of commitment to respecting human rights and working on human rights due diligence and remedies.
Additionally, the “Human Rights & Labor Practices Committee”, which operates under the Sustainability Management Committee directly reporting to the Board of Directors, is chaired by the director in charge of Human Resources.
This committee promotes initiatives related to human rights, including those of group companies.
* International Bill of Human Rights: A collective term for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenants on Human Rights adopted by the United Nations General Assembly.
Educational Activities on Human Rights
We hold sustainability top-level management lectures for group companies.
In 2024, it was conducted on content related to "Toward Creating a Harassment-Free Workplace." We provide training support, distribute human rights awareness booklets, and provide information to Group companies.
Furthermore, in FY2025, we conducted training for each job level of employees on the theme of "Recent Dowa issues and efforts to prevent harassment and how to use counseling services" and distributed a "Collection of Power Harassment Case Studies" to all employees of the Company and its group companies.
| Training | Results |
| Sustainability Lecture to Top-Level Management | 140 participants |
| Human rights training for each job level at headquarters | 276 |
| Human rights training at branches, research centers and plants | 554 |
| Number of Human Rights Week mottos submitted (employees and family members) | 1,761 |
Our Human Rights Hotline
In addition to harassment consultation counselors and human rights awareness promotion committee members conducting activities to raise awareness of human rights to prevent harassment and offering consultation, the Japan Institute for Women's Empowerment & Diversity Management serves as an external consultation service, providing an environment conducive to consultation.
In FY2025, there were 17 consultations to the harassment consultation service, all of which were handled appropriately in accordance with the requests of the consulting parties.
| Internal | Human rights awareness promotion committee members and harassment consultation counselors have been assigned at all our business sites (59 in total) |
| External | Telephone and website consultations have been contracted to the Japan Institute for Women’s Empowerment & Diversity Management Harassment Hotline |
(FY2025) (Non-consolidated)
| Sexual harassment | Power harassment | Other | Total | |
| Internal | 0 | 10 | 5 | 15 |
| External | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Human Rights Due Diligence
We recognize that respect for human rights not only means not being complicit in human rights abuses ourselves, but also taking responsibility for preventing and mitigating negative impacts on our suppliers. In addition, we believe that respect for human rights is our responsibility as a global company and is essential for our business activities.
In FY2024, we conducted our first human rights due diligence, focusing on suppliers related to the cement manufacturing business, which is the core of our business.
The second round of human rights due diligence is planned to be designed in FY2025 and implemented in FY2026. We aim to enhance our corporate value by expanding the scope of our investigations, conducting them regularly, identifying potential human rights risks in the Taiheiyo Cement Group, and taking appropriate measures to prevent or mitigate them in advance.
The Stakeholder Communication Committee, which is under the Sustainability Management Committee directly under the Board of Directors, is mainly responsible for conducting human rights due diligence. The results of the survey are reported to the Sustainability Management Committee, and discussions are also held on corrective measures for the challenges identified. The Sustainability Management Committee also invites external advisors in the field of human rights to give lectures to raise awareness of human rights among top management.
The first human rights due diligence conducted in FY2024 covered a total of 10 companies, including our headquarters, six directly managed plants, and three domestic group companies. As a result of investigating the actual situation and the management system, occupational health and safety and harassment were identified as key challenges in the actual situation survey, and access to legal remedies, prevention of bribery and corruption, and procurement practices (supplier management) were identified as key challenges in the management system survey. In addition, we have determined that it is necessary to formulate a human rights policy that respects international standards more than our previous Basic Policy Concerning Human Rights and Labor Practices, comprehensively covering these issues.
In FY2025, we worked on corrective measures for identified key challenges, starting with the formulation of the "Taiheiyo Cement Group Human Rights Policy." The second round of human rights due diligence is planned to be implemented in FY2026, expanding the scope to major domestic group companies (other than cement manufacturing) and major domestic primary suppliers (other than those surveyed in FY2024).
As a result of conducting the first human rights due diligence based on the 15 human rights challenges that are highly relevant to the Taiheiyo Cement Group, five key challenges were identified.
Corrective measures for key challenges and progress in FY2025
The progress in FY2025 of corrective measures for key challenges identified in FY2024 is as follows.
- Formulation of the Taiheiyo Cement Group Human Rights Policy
Based upon our “Mission” and “Business Principles” we formulated the “Taiheiyo Cement Group Human Rights Policy” in March 2025. Based on this policy, we will promote human rights initiatives throughout the Group. - Access to (legal) remedies
Regarding the Whistleblower Program, which previously covered our company and domestic group companies, we began considering the introduction of a program for overseas group companies in FY2025, and in April 2025, we formulated the "Taiheiyo Cement Group Global Whistleblower Regulations." The overseas group companies covered are proceeding with the formulation of individual company regulations and the establishment of contact points linked to these regulations, and the rollout to overseas group companies is scheduled to be completed within FY2026. - Harassment and abuse
In FY2025, the total number of reports to the internal and external harassment hotline was 17, which is an increasing trend compared to previous fiscal years. The Human Rights Awareness Promotion Office is strengthening its awareness activities to further disseminate internal regulations on harassment and to prevent it. - Occupational health and safety ＜Activity results＞
In FY2025, there were 128 occupational accidents, including 4 fatalities, and the absence rate was 0.701% due to an increase in mental illness, failing to meet the target. We will revitalize communication with our sites more than ever before and all permanent employees will align their vectors to work on safety, security and health. - Bribery and corruption prevention
The Taiheiyo Cement Group positions compliance as the foundation of its business activities, and formulated the "Anti-Bribery Policy" in 2017 and the "Taiheiyo Cement Group Anti-Bribery and Corruption Regulations" in June 2024, and is working to strengthen compliance throughout the Group. - Thorough procurement practices (supplier management)
In March 2025, we formulated the Group's "Basic Policy Concerning Procurement" and "Supplier Code of Conduct" to promote responsible actions, including respect for human rights, throughout the supply chain. We plan to develop awareness activities for suppliers in the future.
