Human Rights
Forced or Compulsory Labor and Child Labor
KPI
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| Item | FY 2021 results | FY 2022 results |
|---|---|---|
| Businesses specified as being exposed to risks of Forced or child labor (manufacturing plants, etc.) and the number of suppliers | (Consolidated) 0 (Upstream) 0 |
(Consolidated) 0 (Upstream) 0 |
Responsible Departments
Raw Materials Procurement Department and Indirect Materials Procurement Department, Procurement Division
Corporate Compliance Department, HR Department
Our position and Targets
Why are “Forced or Compulsory Labor and Child Labor” critical issues for us to address?
Explanation of the reason and background
At the Yokohama Rubber Group, we comply with the action guidelines of "respecting human rights both inside and outside of the company," and strictly prohibit "forced or compulsory labor and child labor" in the entire Group including our supply chain as stipulated in our Human Rights Policy and the "CSR Procurement Guidelines" The Group procures natural rubber, the main raw material for tires and industrial products, which are our main products, mainly through trading companies. Since it is believed that forced labor and child labor is most likely to be practiced at the natural rubber production stage, we are also conducting field research at natural rubber farms. There have been no reported cases of forced labor and child labor at the present stage; however, considering the situation surrounding natural rubber farms, it cannot be said that there continue to be no risk of such practices. In addition, as we expand our overseas production and sales, we cannot rule out the risk of unfair labor being forced upon workers at our factories, business sites, and facilities of our business partners. In the light of these factors, believing that "forced labor and child labor" should be recognized as a risk that can be associated with the implementation of our growth strategy, we have defined them as critical issues to be addressed.
Vision and targets
- We will continue to maintain zero forced or compulsory labor and child labor at all of the Group’s primary suppliers of natural rubber, including overseas suppliers.
- We will identify their adverse impacts on human rights that arise through business activities by using the human rights due diligence system, and take corrective actions including prevention and mitigation.
- Be developing complaint management mechanism, we will enhance our initiatives for the respect of human rights, and raise the level of compliance in the entire Yokohama Rubber Group.
Measures to pursue our vision
Along with population growth and increased mobility on a global level, demand for tires and natural rubber, the main raw material for tires, are constantly growing. Parallel to such growing demand, there are concerns about problems such as illegal deforestation, land deprivation and human rights violations, as well as negative impacts on biodiversity in areas where natural rubber is produced. Toward solving these problems, Yokohama Rubber takes part as a founding member of the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR), which was launched at the initiative of the Tire Industry Project (TIP) of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). In addition, Yokohama Rubber has formulated its " Sustainable Natural Rubber Procurement Policy" and announced its policy of prohibiting child labor. Regarding our supply chains other than that of natural rubber, we completely revised our CSR Procurement Guidelines in 2022, in order to more strongly appeal to our suppliers for the protection of human rights and the prohibition of forced labor and child labor in the supply chains.
Review of FY 2022 Activities
Confirmation of whether forced labor and child labor exist in the Yokohama Rubber Group and in its supply chain
With regard to domestic suppliers of raw materials and other materials, we have conducted a survey on labor conditions using the CSR Self-Assessment Sheet and confirmed that there are no cases of forced labor or child labor.
Regarding natural rubber suppliers, we began to investigate some natural rubber farms in Thailand in 2019, and have confirmed that there are no cases of forced labor or child labor. We provide awareness building training through in-house training programs such as new-employee training, newly appointed career path training and pre-departure training for overseas posting, as well as CSR study meetings for suppliers, in order to prevent the practice of child labor, forced labor and human trafficking.
We have confirmed that there are no cases of child labor with children under 15 years of age working (under 14 in some countries) found among employees working in the Yokohama Rubber Group and among people involved.
In addition, it has been confirmed that none of our employees work under high-risk labor environments (risky chemical substance, dangerous machine operation, dust, heat and cold, noise, etc.) based on the results of various assessments.
Regarding natural rubber suppliers, we began to investigate some natural rubber farms in Thailand in 2019, and have confirmed that there are no cases of forced labor or child labor. We provide awareness building training through in-house training programs such as new-employee training, newly appointed career path training and pre-departure training for overseas posting, as well as CSR study meetings for suppliers, in order to prevent the practice of child labor, forced labor and human trafficking.
We have confirmed that there are no cases of child labor with children under 15 years of age working (under 14 in some countries) found among employees working in the Yokohama Rubber Group and among people involved.
In addition, it has been confirmed that none of our employees work under high-risk labor environments (risky chemical substance, dangerous machine operation, dust, heat and cold, noise, etc.) based on the results of various assessments.
Countermeasures to eradicate forced labor and child labor
We have revised our "Procurement Policy for Sustainable Natural Rubber" and announced our policy to prohibit forced labor and child labor. Regarding our supply chains other than that of natural rubber, we completely revised our CSR Procurement Guidelines in 2022, in order to more strongly appeal to our suppliers for the protection of human rights and the prohibition of child labor in the supply chain.
Response to complaints
There were no reports or consultations related to forced labor or child labor among those accepted by the Compliance Hotline or the General Counseling Room in 2022.
Future challenges
From now on, we will further globalize our efforts by providing guidance and support to rubber farmers and expanding our CSR Procurement Guidelines and CSR Self-Assessment Sheet to overseas suppliers.
