Basic Policy on Human Rights

ES-CON JAPAN Ltd. recognize the importance of respecting human rights in our business activities and are promoting initiatives related to respect for human rights based on Chubu Electric Power Chubu Electric Power 's Basic Policy on Human Rights (July 2023). ES-CON JAPAN Ltd. will "conduct business activities that respect the human rights of all people in accordance with the Charter of Ethical Corporate Behavior," and we consider respect for human rights to be an important initiative in sustainability management.

Furthermore, in light of the growing international demand for companies to respect human rights, ES-CON JAPAN Ltd. support the UNICEF Children's Rights and Business Principles. We strive to prevent the use of child labor in ES-CON JAPAN Ltd. business and ask all stakeholders involved in our business to understand the importance of respecting human rights.

Chubu Electric Power Group Basic Policy on Human Rights

Chubu Electric Power Group supports and respects international standards regarding human rights, including the International Bill of Human Rights and the International Labor Organization of (ILO) Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.
We also strive to put into practice the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

  1. Respect for human rights
    We respect the human rights of all people involved in our business activities.
    We will also not take part in human rights violations.
    Chubu Electric Power Group will comply with applicable laws and regulations in the countries and regions in which it conducts business activities.
    In the unlikely event that there is a discrepancy or inconsistency between the laws and regulations of each country or region and international norms and principles, we will seek to respect international human rights norms and principles.
  2. Scope of application
    This policy applies to all officers and employees of Chubu Electric Power and its consolidated subsidiaries.
    We also ask all business partners, including the suppliers listed above, to understand and cooperate with this policy, and will continue to work to ensure that this policy is respected.
  3. Commitment to specific human rights issues
    Chubu Electric Power Group will respect the following rights and dignity in all its business activities in accordance with international norms and principles regarding human rights.
    1. (1) We will not discriminate in any form on the basis of race, nationality, place of origin, creed, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, social status, family origin, or disability.
    2. (2) We will not engage in any form of harassment, including power harassment, sexual harassment, and maternity harassment.
    3. (3) We respect freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining.
    4. (4) Promote diversity, equity, and inclusion
    5. (5) We will not engage in any form of human trafficking, forced labor, or child labor.
    6. (6) We support minimum wages and living wages.
    7. (7) We will manage working hours appropriately and reduce excessive working hours.
    8. (8) We will ensure a healthy and safe workplace and working environment.
    9. (9) Protect personal information and privacy
    10. (10) We will strive to protect the environment in our local communities.
  4. Implementing human rights due diligence
    We will establish and continuously implement a human rights due diligence system to identify and assess any adverse human rights impacts that our business activities may have and to prevent or mitigate those risks.
  5. Remedies and Remediation
    Chubu Electric Power Group will set up internal and external reporting channels to appropriately respond to human rights issues.
    The hotline will be available not only to Chubu Electric Power Group executives and employees, but also to all stakeholders, including business partners including suppliers and members of the local community.
    When reporting, we will ensure the anonymity of the whistleblower and the confidentiality of the content of the report, as well as prohibit any detrimental treatment or retaliatory measures against the whistleblower, and thoroughly protect the whistleblower.
    If it becomes clear that the business activities of Chubu Electric Power Group cause or contribute to adverse human rights impacts, we will work to provide relief and remediation through appropriate procedures and dialogue.
  6. Dialogue and consultation
    We will engage in dialogue and consultation with relevant stakeholders to address any actual or potential human rights impacts.
  7. Education and training
    We will systematically and continuously provide education and training to deepen correct understanding and awareness of human rights.
  8. Information Disclosure
    Chubu Electric Power Group will regularly disclose information about its efforts based on this policy.

Promotion Structure

ES-CON JAPAN Ltd. has established Sustainability Promotion Committee, chaired by President and Representative Director, to oversee overall sustainability management. With respect to respect for human rights, the Human Rights Subcommittee, established as a subordinate organization of the committee, is taking the lead in promoting initiatives in close cooperation with Compliance Department. The progress and results of human rights due diligence and other initiatives are reported by the Human Rights Subcommittee to the Director Committee via Sustainability Promotion Committee, and are promoted with commitment by management.

Implementing human rights due diligence

Based on the Chubu Electric Power Group Basic Policy, ES-CON JAPAN continually conduct human rights due diligence, identifying and assessing human rights risks related to ES-CON JAPAN business, including those of external stakeholders, and taking measures to prevent the occurrence of any negative impacts on human rights.

Specific human rights due diligence initiatives

(1) Identifying and assessing human rights risks

We identify and categorize the 26 types of major human rights risks that companies should consider, as outlined in "Business and Human Rights Responses Required of Companies Today," published by the Ministry of ES-CON JAPAN Ltd. 's Human Rights Bureau. We also assess the identified human rights risks based on the "magnitude of impact," "scope of impact," "recovery potential in the event of human rights violations," "impact on people," and "frequency of occurrence."

26 types of human rights risks
  1. ① Insufficient or unpaid wages, living expenses
  2. ② Excessive or unreasonable working hours
  3. ③ Safe and healthy working environment 
  4. ④The right to social security
  5. ⑤ Power harassment
  6. ⑥ Sexual harassment
  7. ⑦ Maternity harassment
  8. ⑧ Harassment related to nursing care leave
  9. ⑨Forced labor
  10. ⑩Freedom of residence and movement
  11. ⑪ Freedom of association and the right to collective  bargaining
  12. ⑫ Rights of foreign workers
  13. ⑬ Child labor and children's rights
  14. ⑭Human rights issues related to technology and AI
  15. ⑮ Right to Privacy
  16. ⑯ Consumer safety and the right to know
  17. ⑰ Discrimination
  18. ⑱Gender (including sexual minority) human rights issues
  19. ⑲ Freedom of Expression
  20. ⑳ Rights of indigenous peoples and local communities
  21. ㉑Human rights issues related to the environment and climate change
  22. ㉒ Intellectual Property Rights
  23. ㉓ Bribery/corruption
  24. ㉔Human rights issues in the supply chain
  25. ㉕ Human rights issues in conflict-affected areas
  26. ㉖Right to access remedy
Examples of human rights risks related to ES-CON JAPAN business
  • ⑤ Power harassment
  • ⑮ Right to Privacy
  • ⑯ Consumer safety and the right to know
  • ⑳ Rights of indigenous peoples and local communities
  • ㉔Human rights issues in the supply chain
  • ㉖Right to access remedy

(2) Preventing and correcting adverse human rights impacts within the company

In order to prevent the identified and assessed human rights risks from becoming a reality, we conduct human rights training and harassment prevention training for all employees every year to educate them about ES-CON JAPAN Ltd. basic human rights policy and human rights issues that may arise in connection with our business, and we are working to improve the internal environment by regularly conducting questionnaires and surveys on harassment and compliance.In addition, by implementing an engagement survey from fiscal 2024, we will visualize the working environment in each workplace and strive to recognize and improve individual issues related to the working environment in each workplace.

Of the identified risks, we recognize that human rights violations due to harassment, including "power harassment," are one of the major human rights risks, and in order to prevent serious impacts due to the worsening of the situation, we have established an internal reporting system (compliance hotline) in accordance with the Whistleblower Protection Act, and have also taken measures to prevent the deterioration of the working environment by making Chubu Electric Power Group's joint helpline known within the company.We have also established a system to report the status of reports and their contents to Auditor.

<Major human rights training courses (2024)>
Implementation period Training name subject
June 2024 Harassment prevention training for managers All ES-CON JAPAN Group managers
July 2024 Compliance Training All ES-CON JAPAN Group employees
November 2024 Harassment prevention training for management ES-CON JAPAN Executive Officer Director titles, and Presidents of Group companies
December 2024 Human rights training All ES-CON JAPAN Group employees

*All training sessions are run by Compliance Department, which reports directly to the president, with the cooperation of external instructors.

(3) Initiatives regarding the human rights of external stakeholders

In order to prevent any adverse impacts on human rights, ES-CON JAPAN Ltd. strive to engage in dialogue with various external stakeholders related to ES-CON JAPAN Ltd. business.

Understanding the situation of business partners

In order to understand the status of human rights initiatives at business partners related to ES-CON JAPAN Ltd. business, we select particularly relevant business partners and conduct a survey on the status of their CSR and ESG initiatives, including human rights. We also share ES-CON JAPAN Ltd. training materials and other materials with our business partners in an effort to further raise their awareness of human rights.

Appropriate response to the human rights of residents

We comply with laws and regulations regarding the right to sunlight and privacy, and prevent any negative impact on the human rights of residents living near ES-CON JAPAN Ltd. business sites. We also strive to understand the opinions of residents living near our business sites and customers, and take appropriate corrective measures for any issues that affect human rights.

Managing human rights issues

ES-CON JAPAN Ltd. monitors cross-organizational risk situations and shares information company-wide at the Risk Management Committee, which meets once a week. In fiscal year 2024, no serious human rights risks were identified by the Risk Management Committee.