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Human Rights Efforts

GRI 2-24

As the Kureha Group engages in corporate activities in many countries and regions, we view the consideration of human rights in accordance with international standards as a material issue in our sustainability management. The Kureha Group Charter of Corporate Behavior states, "We respect the human rights of all people affected by our corporate activities." In every scenario, we conduct our corporate activities with respect for the human rights of all stakeholders.

Policy/Policies

GRI 3-2

On April 1, 2023, based on international standards such as the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights approved by the United Nations in 2011 and on input from outside experts, the Kureha Group established its Group Human Rights Policy.
Under this policy, the Kureha Group will undertake assured human rights due diligence and will advance initiatives aimed at ensuring respect for the human rights of all stakeholders in our own corporate activities and business relationships.

Kureha Group Human Rights Policy

As stated in our corporate philosophy, "we treasure people and the natural environment." The Kureha Group is committed to respect for human rights in our business activities and our business relationships.
To further promote Group-wide efforts to respect human rights, we have established the Kureha Group Human Rights Policy, based on the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (hereinafter referred to as the "Guiding Principles") and it has been approved by the Board of Directors of Kureha Corporation.
Based on this policy, we will advance respect for internationally recognized human rights while collaborating and cooperating with stakeholders.

Kureha Group Human Rights Policy

1. Basic philosophy
The Kureha Group understands the businesses may directly and indirectly impact on human rights. We respect the human rights* set forth in the United Nations International Bill of Human Rights and the International Labour Organization (ILO) Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.

  • *These human rights include freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining, the elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labor, the effective abolition of child labor, the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation, and a safe and healthy working environment, as set forth in core labor standards of the ILO.

2. Scope of application
This policy applies to all officers and employees (including non-regular employees) who work for the Kureha Group.
We expect all our business partners, including partners in the value chain, to understand and support this policy and to respect human rights.

3. Our responsibility to respect human rights
By avoiding involvement in adverse human rights impacts through our own activities or business relationships and by taking appropriate measures to remediate any adverse human rights impacts that we identify we have caused or contributed to in line with the "Guiding Principles," we will fulfill our responsibility to respect human rights and will build responsible value chains.

4. Respect for human rights through our business activities
The Kureha Group will address human rights issues, including the following.


  • We respect the basic rights of workers, including the freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining.
  • We promote the improvement and enhancement of occupational health and safety in order to ensure safety.
  • We comply with the laws and regulations of the countries and regions in which we engage in business, manage employees' working hours properly, and pay appropriate wages and benefits.
  • We prohibit any form of discrimination or harassment.
  • We prohibit child labor, unfair low-wage labor, or modern slavery including forced labor, human trafficking or the employment of workers under the age of 18 (young workers) for working at night, overtime, or in jobs that endanger their health or safety.
  • We respect privacy and handle personal information properly in compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
  • We respect the human rights, including the safety and health, of local communities.

We will seek, on a priority basis, to prevent and mitigate actual and potential adverse human rights impacts that are most severe or where delayed response would make them irremediable.

5. Education
The Kureha Group will conduct education for all officers and employees (including non-regular employees) to ensure that this policy is incorporated into all business activities and is embedded effectively.

6. Human rights due diligence
Based on the "Guiding Principles," the Kureha Group will establish a system of human rights due diligence, will identify any adverse human rights impacts that may be imposed through our business activities and our business relationships, and will construct continuous processes for the prevention and mitigation of such impacts.

7. Remediation
If the Kureha Group identifies that it has caused or contributed to adverse human rights impacts through our business activities or our business relationships, we will address the remediation of such impacts through legitimate processes.
If adverse human rights impacts in the value chain are found directly linked to our operations, or products or services by our business relationships, we will cooperate with our business partners and seek to prevent or mitigate the impacts.
We will provide an effective grievance mechanism for individuals and communities who may be subject to adverse human rights impacts in our business activities and business relationships.

8. Dialogue with stakeholders
In order to implement this policy, the Kureha Group will engage in sincere dialogue and consultation with our stakeholders including customers, business partners such as suppliers, shareholders and investors, employees, internal and external expertise, local communities, and rights holders who may be affected by our business activities.

9. Information disclosure
Through our website and other means, the Kureha Group will disclose information on the progress of our efforts toward respect for human rights under this policy.

10. Applicable law
The Kureha Group complies with applicable laws and regulations in the countries and regions in which we engage in business activities.
When the laws and regulations of countries and regions differ from international norms, we will comply with the laws and regulations of the countries and regions while pursuing ways to respect international standards for human rights.

Established on April 1, 2023

Yutaka Kobayashi

Yutaka Kobayashi
KUREHA CORPORATION
President & Chief Executive Officer

Management Structure

The Kureha Group has a Human Rights Subcommittee as a subordinate body of the Sustainability Coordination Committee in accordance with the Kureha Group Human Rights Policy. The Sustainability Coordination Committee is chaired by a director or executive officer. The Human Rights Subcommittee is composed of departments related to human rights issues identified in the Human Rights Policy, and is responsible for overseeing initiatives on respect for human rights, including human rights due diligence, as well as formulating annual plans and managing progress. Progress and results are reported to the Sustainability Coordination Committee for appropriate supervision by management.

Human Rights Due Diligence

Human rights due diligence refers to the series of actions by which a company identifies, prevents, and mitigates adverse impacts on human rights within the company, group companies, suppliers, and other parties, evaluates the effectiveness of efforts, and explains and discloses information on methods for dealing with adverse impacts.

Overall Picture of Corporate Human Rights Efforts

Overall Picture of Corporate Human Rights Efforts
  • *Adapted by Kureha from the "Handbook for Management that Respects Human Rights," Japan Business Federation (Keidanren)

Target(s) and What We Have Done/Are Doing

KPI Company/companies FY2023
Results		 FY2024
Targets		 FY2025
Targets
Manifested Human Rights Issues Kureha Long working hours Less than the previous fiscal year Less than the previous fiscal year
Group Companies in Japan ー Start tracking Less than the previous fiscal year
Overseas Group Companies

Establishment of KPIs and Determination of a Plan for Building a Monitoring System for the Kureha Group

The Human Rights Subcommittee has started its activities and has set KPIs to get an understanding of the human rights issues among those set forth in the Human Rights Policy that have become apparent. A group-wide monitoring system will be established over a three-year period. The Human Rights Subcommittee goal for activity is to identify human rights issues in the Kureha Group and bring them close to zero. In the first year, FY2023, a tally was compiled for all Kureha sites.

Initiative(s)/Activity(ies)

Getting an Understanding of, and Addressing Kureha’s Human Rights Issues

As a result of a survey on human rights issues targeting all Kureha business sites, in FY2023, there were cases of overtime work exceeding 80 hours per month, the standard for long working hours. Long working hours were caused by the concentration of work during the peak season, excessive workload, and response to problems at the factory. We reviewed work allocation, studied and implemented measures to prevent recurrence of problems at the factory, and took steps to stabilize production. We will continue to monitor and verify the effectiveness of these measures.

Participation in Initiatives

Since FY2022, we have participated in the UNDP's Business and Human Rights Academy, and we are making use of the opinions received from experts in our initiatives on respect for human rights. We also participated in the Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) subcommittee of the United Nations Global Compact Network Japan and the Japan Chemical Industry Association's SDGs Liaison Network human rights working group. The knowledge gained from these activities is shared with internal personnel involved in respect for human rights and used to promote our efforts.

Human Rights Education

At a meeting to share thoughts on sustainability for Kureha employees, education on internationally recognized human rights, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and the Kureha Group's human rights promotion framework, etc. was provided through a video. (Number of participants: 886. Viewers: Kureha employees. Coverage: 53.1%)

Grievance Mechanisms

GRI 2-25

The Kureha Group has established a consultation desk (i.e., hotline) for use in making reports or requesting counsel when an employee has become aware of problematic behavior, has doubts, or is unsure of judgment calls involving compliance. This hotline covers human rights-related matters as well. To encourage use of the hotline, we have set up an external consultation desk staffed by attorneys and a special harassment desk staffed by female counselors. Our regulations prohibit any unfair treatment of persons who use the hotline for reporting or counseling.
In fiscal 2023, no cases of discrimination or significant adverse impacts on human rights related to the business continuity of the Kureha Group were confirmed through the hotline.