Nurturing a culture of trust
Respect of human rights

Basic approach to human rights

The Haseko Group explicitly states “respect of human rights” in the Haseko Group Code of Conduct. Moreover, in order to deepen our initiatives for respecting human rights, in January 2022 we established the Haseko Group’s Human Rights Policy in line with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. We have worked to instill the Standards and Policy throughout the Group so that each and every employee can deepen his/her understanding of human rights and engage in operations with a high level of awareness at all times, as well as have required our partner companies and other supply chain constituents to respect human rights in their own business activities. Moreover, we will pursue management that respects human rights through efforts including human rights due diligence initiatives.

Haseko Group Code of Conduct (excerpt)

2. Basic behavioral stance
(4) Respect of human rights
We shall respect the fundamental human rights of all people in all our business activities, and shall not discriminate against people based on race, nationality, birth, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, or any other reason, nor shall we commit any act that undermines the dignity of individuals.

Haseko Group’s Human Rights Policy

Haseko Group’s Human Rights Policy [PDF:86KB]

Status of Human Rights Due Diligence Initiatives

Having developed the Haseko Group’s Human Rights Policy, we are performing human rights due diligence. Human rights due diligence is a continuous process to enhance the effectiveness of efforts to respect human rights. It involves turning a PDCA cycle consisting of identifying and assessing potential risks of human rights infringements related to business activities, instituting measures to avert or mitigate those risks, and verifying the effects of those measures.

Overview of Initiatives for Respecting Human Rights

CO2削減への取り組み

Identification of human rights issues that require action

The corporate management division and the construction division , a division that serves as a contact point with partner companies, have created the “Human Rights Working Group” (hereinafter the working group) and identified potential human rights violations related to the business activities of the Haseko Group. The working group assessed those risks in terms of their degree of severity and likelihood of occurring and verified the status of actions taken by relevant divisions and Group companies. Those efforts identified human rights issues that require action.

Human rights issues identified

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Human rights issue Major risk
Human rights issues in the upstream supply chain ◆Labor problems and impact on the living environment of local communities in the upstream process of the production of construction materials, including logging sites
Forced labor and child labor ◆Labor problems related to foreign technical intern trainees and young workers of partner companies at construction sites and service provision sites
Occupational health and safety ◆Accidents related to the life and health of employees (of the Company and partner companies) at construction sites and other sites where the Company provides service
Employment and working conditions ◆Long working hours
◆Partner companies’ employment and working conditions
Harassment and discrimination ◆Harassment at the Company or between the Company and partner companies
◆Cases where employees harass customers or customers harass employees at service provision sites
Impact on local communities ◆Impact on the living environment of local communities in the vicinity of construction sites
Customer safety and security ◆Accidents when the Company provides services at nursing care sites and in customers’ living spaces
◆Customers’ personal information and privacy

Consideration and implementation of measures to avert or mitigate risks

Most of the human rights issues identified had been recognized as common “company-wide risks” or as “division-specific risks” in existing “risk-prevention activities”, and the Company has been taking measures against them.
Going forward, we will raise awareness of these risks as human rights issues and to continue taking and strengthening measures against them.
On the other hand, some of the human rights issues identified had not been fully recognized as issues for the Group. The situation of those issues is not fully understood. The first step we take for those human rights issues is to consider and take measures to understand the real situation.
As part of these initiatives, we asked partner companies to reply to the following questionnaire regarding foreign technical intern trainees they employ.

Overview of questionnaire on foreign technical intern trainees the Company asked partner companies to respond to

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Companies surveyed   Member companies of “Ken-ei-kai” (an organization of partner companies of Haseko Corporation), “Ken-sho-kai” (an organization of partner companies of Fuji Kensetsu Co., Ltd.) and “Ju-yu-kai” (an organization of partner companies of Haseko Reform Inc.)
Survey period July–August 2022 (For Ken-ei-kai)
Content   The survey was conducted to check the employment status, work environment (wages, working hours, health and safety, etc.), and living environment (provision of housing, etc.) of foreign technical intern trainees. The survey also covered foreign technical intern trainees employed by secondary partner companies (companies that have contract with partner companies).
Results and actions The survey verified that, in general, appropriate actions have been taken by partner companies regarding their treatment of foreign technical intern trainees. Efforts were also made to make important matters regarding treatment of foreign technical intern trainees well understood by partner companies.

Human rights due diligence structure

Human rights issues identified and the status to address those issues are reported to the Board of Directors. We report the status of human rights due diligence, which is to be implemented on an ongoing basis, to the “Sustainability Committee,” chaired by the President of Haseko Corporation, for review. (Matters deliberated by and reported to the Sustainability Committee are reported to and supervised by the Board of Directors, and significant matters are referred to the Board of Directors for deliberation and decision-making.)
The Working Group will continue to play a central role in the deliberation and implementation of practical measures (the working group decides which department will be responsible for which matters requiring action).

Overview of the Working Group

◆Departments comprise the working group: Sustainability Promotion Dept., Risk Management Dept., Personnel Dept., Human Resources Development Dept., Corporate Planning Dept ., Construction Planning Dept. (All these departments are those of Haseko Corporation)
◆Members: Officers in charge, general managers, chiefs, etc. of departments that comprise the working group
◆Responsible person: Operating officer in charge of sustainability

Framework for receiving and handling human rights-related inquiries

The Haseko Group has established an Internal Whistleblowing System for all officers and employees of the Group and to workers at all Group business locations. This system creates a framework for the early detection and early correction of conduct that is problematic in terms of compliance. This is not limited to acts in violation of laws and regulations, and includes matters such as infringements of company rules, harassment, and human rights problems.
In June 2022, we also established a human rights help desk , a page on the Company’s website, to receive inquiries regarding concerns about human rights violations in connection with the Group's corporate activities. This help desk is also open to the general public.
Confidentiality and anonymity will be given consideration when handling cases received at the help desk.

Related Information

Initiatives for respecting human rights

As part of its efforts to develop an awareness of human rights, the Haseko Group distributes a textbook on human rights in the induction training for new employees.

In February 2023, based on the progress of human rights due diligence efforts since the establishment of the “Haseko Group Human Rights Policy,” we implemented e-learning on human rights for all personnel in the Group (including temporary staff) to instill basic knowledge and awareness of the importance of respect for human rights.

In addition, the Haseko Group prohibits all employees, including temporary staff and part-time workers, from performing any act that constitutes harassment under its employment regulations, etc. In order to prevent harassment, we periodically conduct education in the form of e-learning targeted at employees, and raise their awareness through the “Compliance Bulletin ” distributed to employees and in-house posters. In addition, we have internal and external points of contact in the whistle-blowing system that respond to employees’ requests for advice about harassment. Moreover, we consider the freedom of association, the right to organize, the right to collective bargaining, and the right to act collectively as the basic elements that corporations should respect, and have provisions to that effect under collective labor agreements.

Consultation Service

Please contact us if you have any concerns about human rights violations in connection with our group's corporate activities.

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