Respect for human rights , Promoing diversity & inclusion and Health management
Respect for Human Rights
Nippon Steel respects human rights and strives to create the working environment which allows diverse human resources to be more empowered.
Basic policy
In compliance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international norms on human rights, the Nippon Steel Group is in the business of creating and delivering valuable and attractive products and ideas, by respecting our employees’ diverse views and individualities and utilizing them for the good of all. Based on the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the Nippon Steel Group Conduct Code has been set. By adhering to its nine principles, Nippon Steel conducts business ethically, while paying full heed to human rights issues arising with the increasing globalization of the economy. Nippon Steel gives due attention to the rights of workers, and staunchly opposes the use of forced or child labor. These are prerequisites of our corporate activities. We have also prohibited as unjust the discriminatory treatment of workers based on nationality, race, belief, creed, gender, age, sexual orientation, and disability. In addition, we give careful consideration to the traditions and culture, business practice, and labor practice of each country or region as we accelerate overseas business development.
Based on these basic ideas concerning respect for human rights, we strive to create a workplace environment where employees can share diverse values and maximize their abilities. We thereby seek to improve productivity, work conditions, benefits, and the working environment, with the aim to enrich the life of employees and achieve the corporate development.
Efforts to prevent human rights abuses
Addressing human rights risks
From the viewpoint of promoting human rights (HR) awareness activities by assigning human rights awareness advocates at each steelworks and each office, and of implementing corporate-wide human rights awareness activities, we hold a “corporate-wide forum of human rights awareness advocates” in March each year to exchange views on human rights awareness education and new human rights risks, and to consider the related action policy for the next fiscal year. Based on this, we hold a “corporate-wide forum of human rights anti-discrimination promotion” at the beginning of the fiscal year, chaired by the Executive Officer in charge of Human Resources, with the HR managers of each steelworks and each office as members. At this forum, the fiscal year’s policy for promoting human rights development is determined.
In addition to implementing human rights awareness activities in accordance with the policies decided at the forum, each steelworks and each office are actively engaged in employee awareness-raising activities, including holding workshops on a specific issue of the steelworks or office. We also participate in enlightenment organizations and activities hosted by public entities and others in each community. We do this as concerted efforts for human rights enlightenment with the communities.
Along with the group-wide expansion of our efforts to Group companies in Japan and overseas, monitoring surveys on the status of compliance with labor-related laws and regulations, the establishment of consultation contacts, and other issues are regularly conducted via a checklist on internal controls.
Through these efforts, we are continuously and systematically promoting activities to prevent human rights abuses. This includes the understanding of human rights risks that change with the times and the development of a system and a strategy to reduce the risks.
Prevention of forced or child labor
Adhering to international norms concerning forced or child labor, Nippon Steel has the policy of prevention and eradication of both types of labor. We comply with applicable regulations and conduct regular monitoring surveys of our Group companies to prevent such violations in our business activities.
Compliance concerning salaries
In compliance with laws and regulation concerning salary and wages payment, Nippon Steel has set up pay at a higher level than minimum wage stipulated by the country, region, and type of work where we do business. With regard to bonuses, we regularly survey related matters, including the status of each country, region, and type of work, hold meetings with labor representatives, and appropriately reward employees by paying performance-based bonuses linked to company profits.
Human rights awareness education
Based on the policy decided at the “corporate-wide forum of human rights anti-discrimination promotion,” information on human rights awareness is incorporated in training courses for all ranks, from new employees to experienced ones. We also provide education on a variety of subjects, including the issues of harassment and anti-discrimination, understanding of LGBTQ, and human rights issues in the conduct of our business.
Two-way communication with employees based on good labormanagement relations is important in order to prevent human rights abuses. We therefore incorporate education toward building sound labormanagement relationships in training of executives of the Company and the Group companies.
| The number of recipients of training courses by rank on human rights (FY2021 results) |
5,590 |
|---|
In addition to general education that contributes to the prevention of human rights abuses in workplaces, we also address specific human rights abuse risks in formulating and oversight of specific work assignments. Examples include education on fair recruitment selection by employees assigned to the tasks of hiring in order to prevent job discrimination, and education on cross-cultural understanding and communication for those assigned to overseas business in the context of preventing human rights abuses (i.e., consideration for each country’s unique traditions, culture, business practices, and labor-management practices).
Mechanism of corrective actions
We have clarified whom to contact for consultation on various compliance issues including human rights. This is a part of efforts to establish a groupwide claim handling mechanism that makes it easy for employees and related personnel to ask for consultation, and that enables the Company to understand and identify incidents of discrimination.
Specifically, a Compliance Consultation Room has been established to accept inquiries and reports and give counseling regarding human rights abuses such as harassment, from employees of the Company and Group companies and their families, as well as from employees of business partners. Reports and consultations from various stakeholders are accepted through the Inquiry Form accessible on the website. Regarding the response to these individual incidents, such as internal reports and consultations, we investigate the facts and, if necessary, seek advice from outside parties, including lawyers and outside professional organizations, to protect the privacy of the persons and to ensure that they do not receive unfavorable treatment. We then provide guidance and education to those involved, and strive to appropriately resolve the incidents.
Furthermore, since labor-management relations play an important role in preventing human rights abuses and resolving related incidents, in the event of disputes concerning the interpretation of collective agreements, labor-management agreements or other rules directly related to them, a grievance committee is established to resolve the dispute, based on the agreement concerning complaint-handling procedures that has been concluded with the labor union. The committee comprises members from both the management and the labor side.
Communicating with stakeholders
Adhering to laws and the group-company labor agreements, and respecting the rights to organize and to bargain, Nippon Steel strives to maintain sound labor-management relationships. With a focus on mutual understanding through two-way dialogue, we have a place for discussion with labor unions for the entire Company as well as for each steelworks and each office. We discuss the operating and financial performance, safety, health, and production management issues, working conditions such as salaries and bonus payments, balancing of work and personal life, and other issues. Close labor-management communication is also maintained, particularly concerning the actual work cases for which the labor unions received reports from their members. The minutes of these discussions are recorded and shared through the Intranet and other means broadly, from senior management to work union members.
In-house magazines for the entire Company as well as each steelworks and each office are regularly published as a means to send various messages to employees. PR magazines are also published to convey our business and other information outside. Our steelworks and offices also regularly set up a place for dialogue with the nearby residents’ associations to ask for their understanding of our business operations and listen to opinions and requests from them; this is part of what we do to realize better communication with the local community.
| Labor-management discussions (FY2021) |
95 times for the entire Company 942 times at steelworks and offices |
|---|---|
| Number of union members and unionized rate (March 31, 2022) |
26,429 (100% unionized) |
Diversity & Inclusion
Through our efforts in promotion of diversity and inclusion, we are committed to creating a company where diverse employees are empowered, and feel proud and fulfilled.
Basic policy
From the perspective of creating a company where diverse employees are productive, perform at their best, be empowered, and feel proud and fulfilled, we are reinforcing our diversity & inclusion efforts with a focus on the following five areas, as one of important management issues.
- Promote female employee’s participation and career advancement
- Realize work life balance so as to enable employees with various backgrounds and circumstances to perform at their best
- Develop health management in order for employees to perform at their best until the retirement age of 65
- Prevent harassment
- Promote empowerment of the elderly and the disabled
The Diversity & Inclusion Department has been established as a dedicated unit to promote these efforts.
Status of employees (non-consolidated basis)
| Men | Women | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of employees (March 31, 2022) | 25,810 | 2,898 | 28,708 |
| Number of new hires (April 2022) | 487 | 73 | 560 |
| Average years of service (March 31, 2022) | 17.0 | 12.0 | 16.5 |
| Average age (March 31, 2022) | 39.0 | 33.9 | 38.5 |
| Turnover rate (FY2021)1 | 2.7% | 4.6% | 2.9% |
1 The rate of voluntary retirees to all employees
Promotion of women’s participation and career advancement
What we have done so far
We have endeavored to establish a comfortable working environment for female employees. Specific programs include: 1) a childcare leave benefit which is more generous than legally required; 2) a program for employees who rejoin the company after having left it because of childcare or nursing care and other reasons; 3) a leave option to assist overseas relocation of a spouse; and 4) a temporary exemption program for employees who have difficulty in relocation because of childcare or nursing care and other reasons. We have also been opening 24-hour childcare centers in steelworks and provide maternity work clothes for use by steelwork employees who are in the childbirth/childcare phase, in order to help them continue their shift work with confidence. We are also working to improve the workplace infrastructure such as showers, toilets, and dressing rooms at manufacturing sites, and to improve the work content.
In-house childcare center (East Nippon Works Kashima Area)
| Number of in-house childcare centers (April, 2022) |
7centers |
|---|---|
| Number of users of in-house childcare centers (April, 2022) |
151 |
Toward further promoting women’s participation in the workplace
Based on the various programs and work environments that we have established, we have developed the following action plan to support female employees to continue to demonstrate their abilities through career development, and to promote their empowerment in all workplaces and levels, including enhancement of promotion to managerial positions.
Plan of action as a general employer, based on the Act on the Promotion of Female Participation and Career Advancement in the Workplace in Japan
In order to develop an employment environment where female employees can perform at their best, an action plan is formulated as follows:
- Plan period: 5 years (April 1, 2021–March 31, 2026)
- Goals, details of efforts, and implementation schedule
Target1
From FY2021
- Hire more women.
- Confirm the individual circumstances and intentions of female employees, and consider placement and development measures based on their circumstances in order to enable them to continue to work and actively perform.
- Invest in the working environment so as to expand the placement of women, mainly at steelworks (improvement in work infrastructure, work content, etc.)
- Consider and implement work support measures for employees in the childcare status period, such as measures for childcare centers that offer night-time service.
- In light of the enhancement of the programs related to childbirth and childcare, prepare a brochure to introduce the relevant programs, distribute it to employees, and revise related programs as needed.
- Provide career education that will contribute to the further promotion of female employees’ performance.
- Provide education on diversity to executives who supervise female employees.
Target2
From FY2021
- Prepare a pamphlet on the vacation and leave program, distribute it to employees, and develop educational activities.
- Encourage taking paid leave days by setting with the labor union some specific days recommended for paid leaves and by conducting a campaign to do so in the summer.
- Managers to take the initiative in taking off on paid leave days.
- Managers to support each employee to take paid leaves as scheduled.
| Number of female employees in management positions (April 2022) |
55 |
|---|---|
| Utilization rate of paid leave days (FY2021) |
77.8% |
Improved hiring and retention
The ratio of women in overall hiring is 15%, and we will continue to expand their hiring. We are encouraging remote working to facilitate a shift to a flexible workstyle and to reduce long work hours so that those with a constraint on the workplace or work time due to childcare or other conditions can continue to work. In addition, career assessments for female employees have been conducted to facilitate flexible placement and development based on the understanding of individual circumstances and to improve retention rates.
At the same time, we will continue to make changes to enhance the working environment, including improvement of the environment for expanding work placement for women especially in steel mills, and the operation of childcare centers that can also be used during the night time.
| The ratio of women in overall hiring (Average ratio for FY2020–FY2022) |
Office staff and engineers 25% Operators and maintenance personnel 10% Overall hiring 15% |
|---|
Support for employees’ career development and work-life balance
We facilitate the development of female employees by providing them with opportunities for growth through proactive efforts in anticipation of their various life events, and by actively promoting their advancement to managerial positions. As a development policy for the appointment of employees to managerial positions, we have established new respective career training programs for young and middle-class employees since fiscal 2022. We encourage employees to interact, and not to shy away from challenges arising from their work experience and life events; we also make them acquire mindset skills for better mutual understanding with the company and self-realization.
We will create a workplace culture where work and home life are comfortably balanced by making various programs well known to employees, through improvement and dissemination of brochures which explain the programs. We also provide to managers training concerning unconscious bias and diversity management.
With the aim of encouraging male employees with young children to actively participate in childcare, since the second half of fiscal 2021 we have been encouraging them to take childcare and related leave.
Utilization of childcare support program (FY2021)
| Number of childcare leave users and acquisition rate |
267 men(25.6%)1 119 women(100%) |
|---|---|
| Return ratio of female employees after childcare leave |
98.8% |
| Number of users of the short-work hour program for childcare | 111 |
1 Results for the 2H of FY2021: 42.3%
Realizing the work life balance as a means to enable people with diverse situations perform well in the workplace
Restraint on long-work hours
As a precondition for an environment in which diverse human resources can perform at their best, we are committed to reducing long work hours based on appropriate work time management. Prior to the revision of the Labor Standards Act, starting in fiscal 2018, we set up work time capping rules for all employees, including managers, to promote improved work management and work practices that lead to more efficient, higher-value-added output. In addition, we had set a goal of less than 2,000 hours on average for the total annual actual working hours, and have achieved it in fiscal 2021.
We will continue to pursue workstyles that achieve maximum results within a limited amount of time, while incorporating the effects of business reform and DX measures.
Enabling flexible ways of working
All human resources with their diverse attributes and circumstances, such as age, gender, and restrictions on work time and workplace due to childcare and nursing care, ideally should make the most of their finite time available and perform at their best. From this viewpoint, we are expanding our work system to move away from traditionally-set ways of working and pursue more flexible and diverse ways of working in accordance with the nature of work at any given time and fluctuation in workload flow of operations needed at that time, and the circumstances of each individual. Specifically, we are actively utilizing the telework system and expandingworkplaces that use the “coreless flexible system,” which eliminated the core time — an essential time period to be in the office. Based on these systems, we aim to achieve improved productivity and employees’ work-life balance, while pursuing ways in which individuals can perform at their best.
Realization of a flexible way to take time off from work
We have been establishing the environment for our employees so that it facilitates a flexibility in the ways to take time off from work, tailored to the circumstances of individual employees and their life stage.
Annual paid holidays can be taken on a half-day basis to meet employees’ needs. The head office, for example, sets every Friday in August as an “Eco-paid leave day,” and recommends making it easier for employees there not needing to attend meetings and other events on those days to take off.
Concerning childcare leave, in addition to providing a longer period than the statutory limit, the expired annual leave days accrued by each individual can be recovered to paid off-days for parental leave. Currently, we are focusing on clarifying the corporate policies, fostering a workplace culture that encourages employees’ use of the system, and promoting the use of parental leave and childcare-related leave benefits by all male employees who are entitled to childcare leave so that they can get actively involved in childcare.
Performance of ways of working and taking time off (FY2021)
| Average overtime hours per worker per month |
18.9hours |
|---|---|
| Utilization of paid leave days |
77.8% |
| Average paid leaves taken | 15.6days |
| Childcare leave users and utilization rates |
267 men (25.6%)1 119 women (100%) |
| Nursing care leave users (including continued users) |
9 |
| Users of the short-work hour system for nursing care |
1 |
1 Results for the 2H of FY2021: 42.3%
Matched to the ongoing aging of Japanese society, programs for nursing care leave and time off for nursing care have been established to help employees continue working while attending to nursing care. The expired leave days that have been accrued can be used for nursing care purposes, as part of our efforts to provide an environment in which employees can work with peace of mind while providing care.
The expired annual leave days can also be utilized for childcare and nursing care as well as sick leave, care of elementary school children, volunteer work, and infertility treatment. From this year, it can also be utilized for prenatal checkups and recurrent education. For the latter, we have established a leave system for obtaining a degree at a university or another educational institution.
To promote the use of these programs, we distributed a brochure that summarizes each type of work and vacation program applicable for each life stage. We try to make the programs better known through various training programs.
Benefit programs
In order to support the various life stages of employees and enable them to achieve a good work-life balance, we are also focusing on welfare measures. We support employees’ personal life with various programs: provision of housing, including dormitories and company housing, and a cafeteria plan (work-life support program).
Health management aimed for employees to work at their best up to the age of 65
Basic policy
We aim at ensuring that all employee work at their best from the time of joining the company to retirement, which has been extended to the age of 65. To accomplish this, we assist them to maintain and enhance both mental and physical health. We conduct health promotion measures focusing on disease prevention as well as early detection and treatment. We are committed to providing advanced health checkups including cancer or mental disorder screening and encouraging employees to get regular checkups, and provide consultation or counseling about lifestyle or stress coping by health care professionals, as needed. Employees are expected to also be committed to implementing measures for their own health maintenance, such as getting various checkups and improve their daily lifestyle. We believe that such efforts by both the Nippon Steel Group and its employees become a source of motivation for work. They are encouraged to balance their work and health and they try not to get sick and, in case they get sick, they continue working while undergoing treatment.
Nippon Steel Corporation Group Code of Conduct
5 Create a healthy, safe and comfortable work environment, and respect the character and diversity of our employees.
Nippon Steel’s Basic Policy on Safety and Health
Basic Philosophy
- Ensuring and maintaining the safety and health of employees of the Nippon Steel Group is the Group’s most important, top-priority values and the basis that supports business development.
- Under the Management Principles of “developing and bringing out the best in our people,” the Nippon Steel Group makes continuous efforts to abide by this philosophy and continues to contribute to society through their safety and health.
Specific Guidelines
- We observe applicable laws and regulations, and give top priority in all business decisions to ensuring safety and health.
- We maintain awareness and understanding of actual workplace conditions, provide the guidance needed to ensure safety and health, and remove factors that might lead to accidents.
- We follow plans to implement measures to realize safer, healthier work procedures and work environments.
- We ensure the observance of rules and engage in hazard prediction, and proactively implement workplace activities to enhance the level of safety and health.
- We provide the education and training needed to ensure the safety and health of people working in the Nippon Steel Group.
- We continuously develop and improve safety and health efforts through the safety and health management system.
April 1, 2019
Eiji Hashimoto
President of Nippon Steel Corporation
Commitment to the health of both the Company and its employees
Organization for health promotion
Promoting physical wellness
Various cancer screening (including non-statutory exams) based on age and gender are incorporated in our health checkups.
In particular, regarding exams for gastric and colon cancer, which are high risk diseases, we set the evidence-based priority target age and screening frequency for the examination. We also set our target rate of exam-taking and encourage employees to take exams for early detection and treatment of cancer.
| Type of examination | Priority target (target age and test frequency) |
|---|---|
| Gastric cancer examination (gastric fluoroscopy) | Once every 2 years, 50-years old or older |
| Colorectal cancer test (fecal occult blood) | Once a year, 40-years old or older |
| Prostate cancer test (PSA) | Once every 3 years, 50-years old or older |
| Breast cancer screening (mammography) | Once every 2 years, 40-years old or older |
| Cervical carcinoma of the uterus (uterine cytology) | Once every 2 years, 20-years old or older |
| Gastric cancer risk test (pylori) | When joined the company and at 40 |
| Liver cancer risk test (hepatitis virus) | When joined the company and at 40 |
We have established a unique company-wide system that enables us to assess and manage the risk of diseases based on the results of health checkups. We provide health guidance according to risk factors or control the frequency of health checkups.
It is important that workers with high risk of cardiovascular disease improve their lifestyle. , We will improve the implementation rate of specified health guidance, which aimed at improving the dietary and exercise habits of workers, by setting a target rate and promoting medical visits. We cooperate with the Health Insurance Union for achieving the goal.
Promoting mental wellness
Aiming for each employee in the Nippon Steel Group to enjoy a vigorous life on and off the job, we provide a consulting service for prevention and early detection in the area of mental health. For general employees, we have incorporated the issue of mental health in various in-house seminars and offer education on how to be aware of one’s own stress and to deal with it. For managers, we offer education on how to care for their subordinates and manage their teams, and how to coordinate with the corporate health care professionals (occupational physicians, health nurses, and other staff). Moreover, we provide stress checks through a workplace stress survey every fall. Occupational health care professionals give guidance for improvement by teams and individuals based on the result of the stress check. In contributing to a vigorous work environment, managers implement necessary measures according to the issues of a team or an individual, coordinating with the personnel department and the health department. Because early detection and early response are important in the treatment of mental illness, we identify those who are at risk at the Health Consulting Contact by various measures in association with the Company’s mental health e-learning and questionnaire event conducted every June. Occupational health care professionals swiftly respond to the findings of the events to foster mental wellbeing.
Our mental health initiatives
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| Classification | Details | |
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| Proactive action | (Self-care) |
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| (Care by management supervisors) |
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| (Care by occupational health care professionals) |
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| Early detection |
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| Support for employees’ return to jobs and prevention of recurrence |
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Support to employees who work overseas
To enable employees who have been assigned to work overseas to be free of undue worries, a seminar for the employees and their family is held before the overseas assignment, and information on mandatory vaccination, the local medical system, and other matters are provided. Under the policy of providing continuous health management support during overseas assignments, interviews with occupational health care professionals are regularly conducted counseling via online and at the time of a temporary return to Japan, in addition to aftercare checkups of the regular medical exams. Moreover, one of the Company’s physicians periodically visits overseas offices, researches local medical institutions and the daily-life environment, and meets with the employees who work overseas to offer advice. We have contracted with a medical service company to provide the medical care locally, in preparation for the employees possibly becoming ill overseas.
Concerning the COVID-19 infections, necessary infection prevention measures, including evacuation measures, have been implemented in consideration of the local infection situation and the state of medical care, with the first priority on the safety and health of the employees who work overseas and their families.
Health-wellbeing activities
In addition to the above-stated health measures, we collaborate with the Health Insurance Union and labor unions in a variety of health-wellbeing activities, such as the “Health Challenge Campaign” living habits, “Health e-learning” for improving employee health awareness, and passive smoking preventive measures.
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| Classification | Details |
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| Health Challenge Campaign |
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| Health e-learning |
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| Passive smoking preventive measures and non-smoking guidance |
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Preventing harassment
In order for all Nippon Steel employees to work with vigor, it is extremely important to respond appropriately to harassment issues, and we are strengthening our efforts to prevent them.
Specifically, we have clarified our internal policies to prevent harassment in terms of working regulations and internal regulations, and we have also prepared and distributed leaflets to promote awareness among all employees. In addition, we engage in education through e-learning for all officers and employees, and through sponsoring lectures on harassment at milestone training events, spanning activities from new employees to higher management. In addition to continuing these efforts, we incorporated our awareness of the matter of unconscious bias into our training programs in fiscal 2021. We will continue such periodical reviews of the content of training programs.
Dedicated consultation and reporting points of contact have been established so that employees who face a harassment issue can consult with other people, in addition to someone close to themselves, such as their supervisor or co-worker. We are striving to create an environment wherein a harassment issue can be resolved without the employee concerned taking it on all alone.
Each of the contact points takes individual actions and makes sure not to disbenefit anyone for reporting or cooperating. After investigating and confirming the existence of a problem, we take strict measures in accordance with employment rules and other regulations.
Empowerment of the elderly and the disabled
Employment for the elderly
With regard to the promotion of the empowerment of the elderly, we extended the retirement age to 65 from 60 in fiscal 2021, after consultation with labor unions, and taking into account the declining working population, the response to the extended starting age of the pension system, and the maintenance and improvement of our workplaces.
Assuming that the same work will be carried out, even after the age of 60, the employment scheme as well as the salary and bonus scheme will remain the same up to the age of 65.
Under this new system, hopefully, all generations, up to 65 years of age, will continue to perform at their best at the front lines of our workplaces, while also invigorating the skill transfer process and communication within the workplace between generations, thereby creating a vibrant company.
Employment for the disadvantaged
Recognizing employment of the disabled as an important social challenge,we are implementing an action plan for their employment and providing a friendly working environment.
Since 2007, we have established special-purpose companies to expand employment opportunities. As of June 2022, at four special subsidiaries of NS Heartful Service East Nippon Ltd., NS Heartful Service Tokai Ltd., NS Heartful Service Kansai Ltd., and NS Heartful Service Kyushu Ltd., over 100 people are actively engaged mainly in various outsourced work from Nippon Steel. The work includes data input and printing of written documents, cleaning of the steelworks premises, cleaning and management of the welfare facilities, and cleaning of work clothes.
| Employment rate of the disabled (as of June 2022) |
2.40% |
|---|
Work scenery at one of the special-purpose subsidiaries