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Respect for Human Rights
As a signatory company of the UN Global Compact (UNGC), POC undertakes initiatives for embracing respect of human rights in accordance with the framework of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, in addition to supporting and respecting international norms such as the International Bill of Human Rights, and the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.
Human Rights Policy
To fulfill our corporate responsibility to respect human rights, we have established the "Penta-Ocean Construction Group Human Rights Policy" and we are practicing corporate activities based on this policy. This policy was drafted after consultation with external experts and issued by a resolution of the Board of Directors dated June 27, 2023.
Penta-Ocean Construction Group Human Rights Policy is here
Promotion System
In May 2023, we established the Human Rights Committee, chaired by the President, CEO and Representative Director. We are promoting human rights due diligence, including the formulation of our group's human rights policy, identification of significant human rights risks through regular human rights impact evaluation, and monitoring the effectiveness of remedy and corrective measures.
Education and Awareness
As part of our human rights policy, we conducted in-house training (e-learning) for all executives and employees in October 2023 to promote deep understanding and awareness. We also provide our major subcontractors with clear explanations of our initiatives regarding respect for human rights during briefing sessions on the Sustainable Supply Chain Guidelines. Furthermore, we conduct annual training sessions on topics such as discrimination issues, harassment, persons with disabilities, and mental health. We hold a Training Workshop for Executives to Raise Awareness for Human Rights targeted for executives and management-level employees every year. In February 2025, we held and panel discussion led by an external speaker on the theme of diversity. Additionally, aiming to respect the human rights of each individual and create a comfortable and positive workplace, we strive to enhance understanding of human rights by soliciting human rights awareness slogans from employees and their families, and by creating human rights posters and leaflets.
Establishment of the Human Rights Consultation Desk and Harassment Consultation Desk
To enable early detection and correction of negative impact on human rights, we have established the Human Rights Consultation Desk and Harassment Consultation Desk that are available to all individuals affected by our Group's corporate activities. In addition to internal contact points, we have established external contact points (law firms), allowing for anonymous consultations and ensuring that those seeking advice are not subject to any disadvantageous treatment. The total number of consultations received at both contact points (domestic and overseas) in FY 3/25 was 41 (harassment consultations: 41, human rights consultations: 0)*.
* Counted at each contact point based on the consultation content
Human Rights Consultation Desk and Harassment Consultation Desk: https://www.penta-ocean.co.jp/english/compliance/index.html
Dialogue with Stakeholders
To ensure the effectiveness of our business and human rights initiatives, in March 2024, we held an opinion exchange with experts from the Japan Platform for Migrant Workers towards Responsible and Inclusive Society (JP-MIRAI) regarding the human rights of foreign workers. In June 2024, we also participated in individual guidance sessions at the UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) Business and Human Rights Academy, where we received expert advice on our business and human rights initiatives.
In the Global Compact Network Japan (GCNJ), which we have joined since 2022, we participate in the Human Rights Education Subcommittee and the Human Rights Due Diligence Subcommittee, obtaining information from experts and others to promote our initiatives.
Human Rights Due Diligence (DD)
We implement human rights due diligence based on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
In FY 3/23, with guidance from external experts, we identified human rights risks and priority issues in the construction industry. Based on these findings, we conducted monitoring within POC group in FY 3/24, followed by assessments in subcontractors, etc. in FY 3/25. To address human rights issues that change in response to social demands and corporate activities, we will regularly review human rights risks based on human rights impact evaluations.
Main Human Rights Risks
Main Initiatives
[FY 3/23] Identifying Human Rights Risks in the Construction Industry
- Based on reports issued from international organizations, industry groups, NGOs, etc. and cases of human rights abuses, we identified human rights risks in the construction industry
- We performed mapping of stakeholders on the value chain that are susceptible to each anticipated risk
[FY 3/24] Determining the State of Human Rights Risk Control in Penta-Ocean Construction Group
- We held internal dialogue meetings to promote the understanding of identified human rights risks among relevant parties. Additionally, we conducted hearing and monitoring surveys for our branch offices, overseas offices and companies of the Group to confirm "presence or absence of rules", "grasping the current state", etc
- The Human Rights Committee deliberates on how to implement preventive and corrective measures that should be prioritized, and continues to monitor their progress
[FY 3/25] Implementation of Measures Based on the Results of Human Rights Monitoring Surveys, and Extending Initiatives for Respecting Human Rights to Subcontractors
- Implementation of specific measures by responsible departments such as safety and human resources departments, and extension of these measures to include group companies
- Overseas, with input from experts, we created checklists based on human rights-related laws and social norms in each country
- Conducted monitoring surveys targeting major subcontractors and others (Monitoring using the self-assessment questionnaire (SAQ) based on the Sustainable Supply Chain Policy and Guidelines)
[FY 3/26] Continued Implementation of Human Rights Due Diligence
- Implementation of human rights monitoring in Japan and overseas
