１．Introduction
This statement, hereafter the FY2020 statement, updates the content published on 17th November, 2020. The statement is reported in accordance with Section 54 of the UK’s Modern Slavery Act 2015 and Section 14 of the Australian Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth).
Osaki Electric Co., Ltd. (hereinafter “the Company”) is committed to ensuring that we do not violate human rights and that we are not complicit in the violation of human rights through the company and its group companies (hereinafter “Osaki Group”) or our supply chains. We recognize that slave labor and human trafficking are major global issues, and that they could occur in the form of forced labor and child labor in relation to our business activities. The Osaki Group also supports and respects international codes of human rights, including the United Nations International Bill of Human Rights (The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights), the United Nations Global Compact, and the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work
We have outlined below our initiatives for ensuring that we do not allow any violation of human rights such as modern slavery or human trafficking, either directly or indirectly, in the business conducted by the Osaki Group.
２．Business and Organization of the Osaki Group
The Osaki Group’s vision is to be a “Global Energy Solution Leader.” We manufacture and sell energy meters such as smart meters, and provide energy management services that utilize energy measurement and control technologies, as well as solutions utilizing IoT. The Osaki Group has companies based in 14 countries worldwide, with over 3,000 consolidated company employees providing products and services to over 100 countries.
The Company is listed in the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange and is the parent company of the Osaki Group, conducting business operations in Japan.
Overseas businesses are promoted by the EDMI Group owned by parent company EDMI LIMITED, and The Company. controls the EDMI Group through its overseas holding company OSAKI United International Pte. Ltd. In the UK, business operations such as the development and sales of smart meters and communications hubs are handled by EDMI Europe Limited. In Australia, business operations such as smart meters and solution services are handled by EDMI Pty Limited and EDMI GAS Pty Limited.
The Osaki Group’s Vision
https://www.osaki.co.jp/en/profile/message/vision.html
Osaki Group companies and businesses
https://www.osaki.co.jp/en/group.html
3．Policy and Initiatives Regarding the Prevention of Slave Labor and Human Trafficking
1) Establishment of a Human Rights Risk Monitoring System
We incorporated human rights risks into our risk management system and established a group-wide monitoring system.
2) The Osaki Group’s Charter of Corporate Behavior
The Osaki Group states in “The Osaki Group’s Charter of Corporate Behavior” outlining the guidelines for corporate behavior, that the group shall “conduct business that respects the human rights of all persons and take no part in any discriminatory action at all phases of our businesses,” “pursue work practices that help our employees to develop their career and capabilities and provide them with fair working conditions and opportunities to grow professionally,” and “build effective corporate governance system for the conduct of business, strive to raise awareness of the Charter's principle throughout the group, and encourage behavior in its supply chain based on the principle of this Charter.”
The Osaki Group’s Charter of Corporate Behavior
https://www.osaki.co.jp/en/profile/message/charter.html
3) Compliance rules / instruction manuals
The “Compliance Manual” outlining operational guidelines in accordance with the Osaki Group’s Charter of Corporate Behavior, specifies “Compliance with legal requirements,” “Respect for human rights and prohibition of discrimination,” “Prohibition of harassment,” “Safety and health in the workplace,” and “Compliance with labor laws.” In addition, the handbook for this manual, “The Osaki Group’s Compliance Handbook” (“EDMI General Compliance Rule” within the EDMI Group) is utilized for the education of group employees.
In addition, EDMI Group, which is responsible for overseas operations, newly formulated “Code of Professional Conduct and Business Ethics Policy” and “Modern Slavery Policy”, and confirmed recruitment manuals at its own plants.
4) Internal Audit Response
The Company has incorporate human rights risk monitoring system in its risk management system, and has expanded and established human rights-related items within the Risk Self-Inspection System to strengthen management of human rights risks. In the future, we aim to strengthen management through PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) cycle of the "Risk Self-Inspection System."
EDMI plans to conduct auditing of the status of compliance with human rights at its manufacturing plants.
5) Establishment of a helpline
The Osaki Group has established a reporting system through a helpline (whistle blowing) that serves as the contact for reports and consultations including those relating to human rights for all group employees both within and outside Japan, with the aim of identifying and correcting any issues at an early stage. Within Japan, we have also established an external reporting contact through a third-party institution to allow reports to be made anonymously. In addition, whistle-blowers are protected by stipulating that the termination of employment or any other disadvantageous treatment on the grounds of such reports is prohibited.
6) Supply chain management
The Company is currently preparing a Basic Procurement Policy that incorporates the content of human rights compliance. We will disclose the Policy on our website once established. In the future, we plan to address more on the confirmation of no human rights violation in the supply chain at quality audits.
EDMI Group has formulated risk management rules for the process of selecting business partners. Accordingly, EDMI began investigation process at its top customers on human rights violations. We will analyze the investigative results on the business partners and consider them for future actions. Furthermore, we will conduct surveys of new suppliers whenever necessary.
7) Training and education
In aim to enhance employee awareness, an article on human rights, including the content of Modern Slave Act, was published in an in-house magazine. Furthermore, educational programs on human rights were provided to employees of domestic Group companies.
The Company conducts education on human rights for employees at domestic purchasing department. The company also hosted a training on harassment for manager or higher positioned employees. We will continue to provide more training on human rights by incorporating the related programs into our employee education system. We also plan to conduct training about various types of harassment and gender equality.
ENEGATE, a domestic group company, conducts human rights education for all employees every year and continues its efforts to raise awareness on the human rights issues.
EDMI group provides education Code of Conduct on human rights and Modern Slavery Act to its employees. Approximately 70-80% of employees at the headquarters in Singapore, sales subsidiaries in UK, Australia, and New Zealand, and at main manufacturing plants in Malaysia and China have been trained. EDMI targets education to all employees be completed within FY2021. Education for new employees are conducted as necessary.
This statement was approved by the company’s board of directors on 27th May, 2021 and signed off by President and COO (Representative Director) Mitsuyasu Watanabe.
27th May, 2021
