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Toshiba Group’s Material Issues
Toshiba Group’s Material Issues

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.

KPIs and Achievements

Rate of human rights-related seminars and workshops for sustainability leaders held

FY2022 Achievement 100%*1
FY2023 Target 100%*1+*2
FY2023 Achievement 100%*1+*2

Participation rate in human rights education programs (e-learning) under the Standards of Conduct for Toshiba Group

FY2022 Achievement 99 %
FY2023 Target 100 %
FY2023 Achievement 99.6 %
FY2024 Target 100 %

Human rights due diligence initiatives

(a) Implementation rate of human rights impact assessments in our own company’s businesses

FY2022 Achievement 100 %*1

 

(b) Implementation rate of the survey on the actual conditions and the measures for correction, prevention, and mitigation

FY2023 Target 100 %*2
FY2023 Achievement N/A*3

 

Implementation rate of the monitoring on actual status using the Risk Assessment Program (RAP) for group companies*4

FY2024 Target 100 %
  • At Toshiba, Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation, Toshiba Infrastructure Systems & Solutions Corporation, Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation, Toshiba Digital Solutions Corporation, Toshiba Elevator and Building Systems Corporation, Toshiba Lighting & Technology Corporation, and Toshiba Plant Systems & Services Corporation
  • Group companies identified as high risk in human rights impact assessments
  • As it is difficult to quantify the implementation rate, it is listed as N/A (see main text for actual efforts).
  • RAP target companies (80% of Toshiba Group)

FY2023 Key Achievements

  • We strengthened monitoring of measures based on the results of human rights impact assessments conducted through the Human Rights Risk Assessment Program (Human Rights RAP) for Group companies.
  • We held online human rights lectures for all directors, officers, and employees in Japan and overseas, and we worked to deepen understanding of human rights issues throughout Toshiba Group.
  • Our response to the Modern Slavery Act in the UK and Australia was changed from a response by each company to a joint statement indicating Toshiba Group's stance.

Policy on Respect for Human Rights

Toshiba Group stipulates respect for human rights as Article 1 in the Standards of Conduct for Toshiba Group, and has declared that it conducts corporate activities with consideration of human rights. In light of recent changes in global society's awareness of human rights, we established the Toshiba Group Human Rights Policy in March 2022. We understand that our corporate activities have impacts on human rights, and that we fulfill our responsibilities by respecting the human rights of all stakeholders involved in Toshiba Group's corporate 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.


International norms and guidelines related to human rights that we refer to in conducting our business activities:


  • 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)

Structure for Respecting Human Rights

Toshiba Group is committed to respect for human rights as one of its material issues. Under the supervision of the executive in charge of sustainability, the staff members responsible for sustainability in the Strategic Planning Division formulate and implement human rights-related measures necessary for Toshiba Group. In addition, we hold regular weekly human rights meetings in which staff members responsible for human rights from the Human Resources & Administration Division, the Procurement Division, and the Legal & Compliance Division discuss initiatives and issues at Group companies, and they share information on global trends and other related topics. We plan to work with the Environment Division to understand and respond to the relationship between human rights and the environment.

The Human Resources & Administration Division is responsible for specific initiatives and human rights training related to the human rights and labor of Toshiba Group employees, including temporary and contract employees.

Regarding human rights initiatives in the supply chain, the Procurement Division requests that suppliers consider human rights based on the Toshiba Group Procurement Policy, and we jointly promote initiatives to fulfill our corporate social responsibility.

Human rights issues and risks are addressed by the Legal Division together with the Sustainability Management Group in Strategic Planning Division.

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.

Human Rights Due Diligence


Human Rights Impact Assessment


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.


Response to Human Rights Issues


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.

Toshiba Group's Human Rights Issues

Objects Employees / Suppliers Customers / Local communities
Human Rights Issues Working environment Impact on communities and indigenous peoples
Social protection Impact on product end users
Discrimination, Harassment,
Equal opportunity
Impact on product safety and the environment
Freedom of association Privacy protection
Child labor Impact of cybersecurity
Forced laber, Modern slavery Impact of AI use
Foreign worker  
Occupational safety and health
Objects Employees / Suppliers Customers / Local communities
Human Rights Issues Working environment Impact on communities and indigenous peoples
Social protection Impact on product end users
Discrimination, Harassment,
Equal opportunity
Impact on product safety and the environment
Freedom of association Privacy protection
Child labor Impact of cybersecurity
Forced laber, Modern slavery Impact of AI use
Foreign worker  
Occupational safety and health

Improvement of the Working Environment and Compliance with Standards

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.

Addressing Modern Slavery, Including Child Labor and Forced Labor

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.”*

  • 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.

Foreign Workers

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.

Occupational Health and Safety

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.

Impact on Local Residents

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.

Other Initiatives Related to the Issue


Monitoring


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.

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.

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.

Training and Enrichment on Respect for Human Rights

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.


"Respect for Human Rights" e-learning


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.


Online Seminar on Business and Human Rights


In December every year Toshiba holds a Human Rights Week Memorial Lecture during Human Rights Week, which includes Human Rights Day (December 10th) as an event during Toshiba Group Sustainability Month.* In FY2023, under the theme “Business and Human Rights - Towards Responsible and Sustainable Business Activities,” we hosted a lecture by Ms. Akiko Sato, Business and Human Rights Liaison Officer at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), to promote understanding of the actions required of companies. In addition, we have uploaded a video of this lecture with English subtitles to our corporate website for viewing by directors, executives, and employees of Group companies in Japan and overseas. In the post-event questionnaire, over 85% of participants said that the event had deepened their understanding of human rights. While there were comments like “I thought I should adopt human rights as my own cause” and “I came to understand how the environment affects human rights,” there were also comments such as “There were many unfamiliar terms, so it was difficult to understand,” and we will use these as a reference when considering future training.

  • Toshiba Group has designated December as Sustainability Month to implement various initiatives, including events where all executives and employees can think about sustainability.

Online Seminar on Business and Human rights


Training Aimed at Creating Workplaces that Respect Human Rights


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).


Training for "Harassment Consultation Center" Staff


Toshiba Group prohibits harassment, including sexual harassment, power harassment, and other forms of bullying and harassment in the workplace, in our employment regulations and collective agreements, and stipulates that perpetrators of such harassment will be subject to disciplinary action.

We also provide consulting services at each workplace and group company, and regular training on discrimination and harassment for consulting service staff every year. In FY2021, we focused on power harassment, and held online training sessions in which we shared common elements and examples of cases consulted on, and talked about emotional self-control, which consulting service staff need to inform themselves about through case studies. In FY2022 and FY2023, the theme of the training was LGBT+, and we held online training sessions on recent trends regarding LGBT+ and points to consider when offering consultation services, supported by case studies.

Training for "Harassment Consultation Center" Staff


Raising Awareness of Human Rights Risk Management Through Case Studies


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.

Whistleblowing, Consultation, and Remedies

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.


For Employees


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

For Suppliers


  • Clean Partner Line

For Stakeholders


  • Engagement and Remedy Platform by JaCER*
    JaCER Report Form English / Japanese
  • Group employees are supposed to use the Toshiba Hotline, Toshiba Group Overseas Hotline or Harassment Consultation Center, not this platform.

Details of the Toshiba Group’s reporting system, including the contact points listed above, and the number of reports received


Activities with Stakeholders

We will continue to strengthen Toshiba Group’s human rights initiatives through dialogue and by actively participating in the human rights activities of international organizations, NGOs, and human rights advocacy groups.

  • GCNJ (Global Compact Network Japan)
  • BSR (Business for Social Responsibility)
  • RBA (Responsible Business Alliance)
  • JEITA (Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association)
  • JP-MIRAI (Japan Platform for Migrant Workers towards Responsible and Inclusive Society)
  • JaCER (Japan Center for Engagement and Remedy on Business and Human Rights)