Respect for Human Rights
JR East Group Policy on Human Rights
In March 2023, the JR East Group formulated the JR East Group’s Basic Policy on Human Rights to promote respect for the human rights of all people, including customers, local residents, business partners, and employees, based on international human rights norms.
Framework for Promoting Respect for Human Rights
We have established a Human Rights Awareness Promotion Committee, chaired by the director or executive officer in charge of human rights and composed of department directors at the head office, to identify and discuss various human rights violation risk factors within the JR East Group, including the implementation status of human rights due diligence, and monitor the status of responses.
Human Rights Due Diligence
We have identified five key themes (prominent human rights issues)
to be addressed by understanding the characteristics of the
wide-ranging business fields of the JR East Group and taking into
consideration the severity and likelihood of human rights violation
risks, with reference to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and
Human Rights reporting framework and other sources. These five
key themes are: “occupational health and safety; excessive work,”
“discrimination; harassment,” “customer safety and privacy,” “human
rights issues in the supply chain,” and “consideration for the local
community and the environment.”
We will manage and mitigate
the risk of these human rights violations through human rights due
diligence that utilizes risk management mechanisms and dialogue
based on international norms.
Human Rights Due Diligence Process
Education on Human Rights
Through activities to instill a Groupwide understanding of human rights, such as through education, training, and slogans, we aim to raise employee awareness of respect for human rights and create a safe and comfortable working environment for everyone.
Specific Initiatives
- Seminars on human rights, etc.
- Level-specific training
- Initiatives to consider respect for human rights (disseminating information through company newsletters and taking ideas for slogans)
- Participation in external organizations such as the Global Compact Network Japan and the Industrial Federation for Human Rights, Tokyo, and participation in training sessions, etc.
Customer Harassment Policy
The JR East Group believes that ensuring a safe and comfortable work environment where every employee in the group can fully demonstrate their abilities and work actively and healthily—both physically and mentally—is the foundation for providing customers with safe and high-quality services, which is why we established the JR East Group Policy on Customer Harassment.
Sustainable Procurement
The JR East Group has established a Group procurement policy as a standard of conduct for procurement with consideration for society, the environment, and other factors throughout the supply chain.
JR East Group Procurement Policy
- We procure materials in accordance with the Group procurement policy (revised in October 2021).
- In February 2022, we established the “Declaration of Partnership Building” to build new partnerships by promoting collaboration, coexistence and co-prosperity with our supply chain partners and operators seeking to create value. (Revised in January 2026)
Communication with business partners
- Starting in FY 2023.3, we now conduct “Communication on management challenges” with the aim of understanding the issues faced by our business partners.
- Moreover, starting in FY2024.3, we now implement “Communication on penetration of initiatives related to human rights, the environment, and other issues among major suppliers (supply chain penetration percentage).”
- In addition, we are continuing to conduct communication about quality control, which is something we have been implementing for some time.
Sustainable Procurement Survey
- The content was updated in FY 2022.3, and we are continuing to conduct sustainable procurement surveys for our business partners. (Approximately 1,200 companies respond each year)
- In five of the seven items, over 80% of our business partners have established systems to promote sustainable initiatives.
- On the other hand, while improvements are being made year by year in establishing systems for the two items of “environment” and “penetration of efforts related to human rights and the environment into the supply chain,” issues still remain.
Future Initiatives
- To achieve KPIs, we will continue to communicate and conduct questionnaire-based surveys to work with our business partners to resolve issues.
- We will use the JR East Group Procurement Representatives’ Conference to accelerate sustainable procurement across the Group, including in terms of human rights, the environment, and other issues.