Respect for Human Rights

Guided by the Basic Commitment of the Toshiba Group, we declare that we value all stakeholders, such as our employees, customers, and shareholders. We support the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well as other universal principles related to human rights and labor, and respect human rights through our sound business activities.

In formulating the policy, as a signatory to the UN Global Compact, we referred to international norms and guidelines. In addition, based on the results of human rights impact assessments and the opinions of third-party organizations specializing in human rights, we have identified and are working on the following human rights issues as focus areas: 1. discrimination, 2. harassment, 3. health and safety, 4. forced labor, 5. child labor, 6. personal information/data and privacy, 7. corruption, 8. freedom of association and collective bargaining rights, 9. human rights issues related to technology and AI, and 10. human rights issues related to the environment and climate change.
This policy supplements the Standards of Conduct for Toshiba Group and the Toshiba Group Sustainability Policy, and applies to all persons working for Toshiba Group, including directors, officers, and employees. We also communicate the policy to business partners, suppliers, and related parties and request them to act in accordance with this policy.

The executive in charge of Sustainability is responsible for implementation of this policy.

• UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights
• OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises
• OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Business Conduct
• UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights
• UN Guiding Principles Reporting Framework
• ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work
• ILO Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy
• Convention on the Rights of the Child
• UN Global Compact
• ISO 26000 (Guidance on social responsibilities)
• GRI Standards
• Responsible Business Alliance Code of Conduct (RBA)

Toshiba Group’s human rights initiatives in the supply chain are discussed by the Sustainability Strategy Committee, which is chaired by the Representative Director, Corporate Officer, President and CEO, as part of the Company’s efforts to promote sustainability, and the Committee makes necessary decisions. The Committee reports its deliberations and decisions to the Board of Directors, which oversees its activities.

• Sustainability Management Structure

Toshiba Group conducts human rights due diligence in accordance with the UNGPs. As part of such efforts, in cooperation with Business for Social Responsibility (BSR), a U.S.-based sustainability advocacy organization, we conduct human rights impact assessments for each of our businesses.

For the issues identified in the human rights impact assessment, we are taking measures to prevent and mitigate negative impacts and to make corrections based on international human rights norms and guidelines. Through our efforts to address these issues, we will deeply instill the importance of respecting human rights throughout Toshiba Group and fulfill our social responsibility as a company that values human rights.

The Human Resources & Administration Division conducts labor management that considers the human rights of employees and has a system in place to ensure compliance with labor standards. The Risk Compliance Committee, which is chaired by the corporate officer in charge of Human Resources & Administration, holds the Human Resources and Administration Subcommittee every six months to confirm issues, risks, and the status of any violations of laws and regulations as well as improvement measures for themes such as “human rights and harassment,” “personal misconduct,” “health and safety and occupational accidents,” “long working hours,” “management of temporary employment,” “labor disputes,” and “the Worker Dispatching Act and the Employment Security Act.” The subcommittee also discusses various activities and achievements in the field of human rights education. We will continue to improve the working environment for our employees and promote decent work for them.

• Work-Style Reform and Work-Life Balance
• Promotion of DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging)
• Training and Enrichment on Respect for Human Rights

In accordance with the Standards of Conduct for Toshiba Group, Toshiba Group prohibits child labor and forced labor. In addition, the Toshiba Group Human Rights Policy lists child labor and forced labor as important issues, and we are working to ban them, including through supply chain measures.
In response to the Modern Slavery Act in the UK and Australia, Toshiba Group has issued a “Toshiba Group Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement.”*

• Toshiba Group Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement (PDF)(354KB)
• Past statements

• This statement excludes Toshiba Tec Corporation, the Company’s subsidiary listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, and its subsidiaries. Toshiba Tec Group plans to issue its own statement separately.

Toshiba Group recognizes that since foreign workers, migrant workers, interns, and trainees are likely to be at risk of labor exploitation and forced labor, this issue must be addressed as a priority.

Our Group companies in Japan accepted technical trainees from Vietnam, and we conducted in-person interviews with them in 2022. In its assessment, BSR confirmed that Group companies comply with all relevant national laws and regulations and have made improvements to address the issues pointed out in FY2022. The host company holds regular discussions with the trainees, and in FY2023, they took steps to improve trainees’ living conditions, such as providing single rooms in the dormitory for some trainees.
Regarding the recruitment fee that many trainees bear, we will review its breakdown in our Group companies in Japan and overseas, and consider specific measures based on expert opinions and international norms.

Toshiba Group is committed to creating a safe and comfortable work environment and to supporting the maintenance and improvement of its employees’ physical and mental health.

• Ensure Employee Health and Safety

Toshiba Group recognizes the importance of respecting the rights of local residents and indigenous peoples living near our business sites in order to continue our business and coexist with local communities, and we have implemented various measures to ensure such respect. We conduct environmental impact assessments before starting new projects to minimize the environmental impact of our operations. We also comply with the environmental laws and regulations of each country and region to take all possible measures to preserve the local environment and to consider the potential impact of our business activities on the human rights of residents. A remedy mechanism (grievance mechanism) has been introduced for reporting and consultation on human rights issues from local residents and indigenous people.

• Employment and Labor Relations
• Quality Control for Safety and Reliability
• Product Safety and Product Security
• Cyber Security, Privacy
• Toshiba AI Governance Statement

Toshiba Group annually reviews and monitors the status of human rights initiatives at Group companies in Japan and overseas utilizing the Human Rights RAP (Risk Assessment Program), and strives to prevent issues before they arise, correct inappropriate initiatives, and prevent issues from recurring. In FY2023, we conducted a survey of 144 companies (80% of our consolidated subsidiaries in Japan and overseas). As a result of the survey, which included 16 questions on issues such as child labor, forced labor, working hours, wages, health and safety management, and harassment, it was determined that additional surveys were needed for 67 companies, but we ultimately confirmed that there were no problems at any of the companies. Human Rights RAP initiatives are reported to and deliberated by the Human Resources and Administration Subcommittee of the Risk Compliance Committee. In addition, the content of subcommittee meetings is reported to the Risk Compliance Committee along with other issues related to the Human Resources & Administration Division. We will continue to use the Human Rights RAP to monitor human rights initiatives and strengthen measures to prevent issues from arising.

• Work-Style Reform and Work-Life Balance
• Inspection of Implementation Status of Risk Management and Compliance Measures

Due diligence on suppliers is conducted by the Procurement Division. The human rights risks and countermeasures identified in the process are shared with Sustainability Management Group Strategic Planning Division, Human Resources & Administration Division and Legal & Compliance Division to ensure that respect for human rights is addressed throughout the value chain.

• Practicing Sustainable Procurement Activities (Supplier due diligence)

Toshiba Group will continue to deepen its understanding of the impact of its business activities on human rights and will implement initiatives to prevent and mitigate negative impacts through stakeholder engagement and other means.

Toshiba Group views human rights education as an important measure for solving problems, and we conduct human rights training to further raise awareness of respect for human rights.

We conduct an annual e-learning program on Article 1 “Respect for Human Rights" of the Standards of Conduct for Toshiba Group, the Toshiba Group Human Rights Policy, and the Toshiba Group Procurement Policy for executives and employees (including temporary and contract employees) of Toshiba Group companies in Japan and overseas. In FY2022, it covered the content of each policy, child and forced labor issues, global trends related to business and human rights and the responsibilities that companies are expected to fulfill, as well as the prohibition of harassment and the promotion of diversity and inclusion. The participation rate for FY2023 was 99.6% across Toshiba Group companies in Japan and overseas. For employees who are unable to take the e-learning course, we distributed a booklet based on the e-learning material and strive to promote understanding of respect for human rights throughout all Group companies.

In addition to the aforementioned Group-wide e-learning education, Toshiba Group companies in Japan include various human rights issues as topics to be covered in training programs, including “training for general personnel and exempt employees,” “training for new recruits,” and “training for promoted employees.” With the goal of creating a workplace that respects human rights and is free from discrimination, we also include training on how to respond to harassment in our executive officer training. Such training programs were held at Toshiba Group in Japan 170 times in FY2023 (up 20% year on year), with around 32,000 participants (up 75% year on year).

Toshiba publishes case studies from outside the Company regarding violation of human rights on our company intranet, in order to improve employee awareness. We summarize and introduce the key points of risk management and related laws in a nutshell.

• Structure of Risk Management and Compliance

Toshiba Group has established contact points to receive internal reports and consultations regarding human rights for employees and business partners. At all points of contact, we respond quickly and appropriately while giving due consideration to privacy, maintaining confidentiality, and prohibiting any adverse treatment (e.g., retaliation) against the consulting party.

For human rights complaints and consultations from all of our stakeholders, including members of local communities, customers, and secondary and subsequent business partners with whom we have no direct business relationship, we use the “Engagement and Remedy Platform” operated by the Japan Center for Engagement and Remedy on Business and Human Rights (JaCER). JaCER is an organization that aims to provide the non-judicial platform for redress of grievances and to act in a professional capacity to support and promote redress of grievances and remedies by member companies based on the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Toshiba Group became a full member of JaCER in October 2022 and responds to complaints and grievance reports in an appropriate manner by utilizing the platform to ensure fairness and transparency in the process.

• Toshiba Hotline
• Toshiba Group Overseas Hotline
• Harassment Consultation Center

• Clean Partner Line

• Group employees are supposed to use the Toshiba Hotline, Toshiba Group Overseas Hotline or Harassment Consultation Center, not this platform.

• Risk Management and Compliance (Whistleblowing, Consultation, and Remedies)

• Participation in External Sustainability Initiatives Organizations