Respect for Human Rights

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Measures for Respecting Human Rights

The Shimadzu Group has included respecting the rights of individuals and not discriminating based on race, gender, language, nationality, religion, physical handicaps, beliefs, or other reasons among the principles of conduct in the Corporate Code of Ethics. Meanwhile, we established a Conduct Guidelines Related to Respecting the Human Rights and Diversity of Employees and have been promoting the creation of workplaces that respect the human rights of all employees and show mutual appreciation of diversity, such as differences in personality and individuality. Human rights is also included as an important theme of Shimadzu’s CSR Charter, which specifies a basic policy of complying with international norms, laws, and regulations, such as respecting the rights of individuals, eliminating child labor and forced labor, and banning discrimination.


A Corporate Ethics and Code of Conduct Handbook was created, an internal education program based on e-learning has been provided, a harassment help desk is available, and so on, based on that policy. In addition, we implement measures to promote awareness about respecting human rights, such as distributing a booklet about respecting human rights to new managers and conducting harassment training for managers and for personnel working at contact points for reporting harassment. We also periodically survey suppliers in and outside Japan to check for any human rights violations in their business practices.

Statement on “Modern Slavery Act“

The "UK Modern Slavery Act 2015", passed in October 2015, obliges us as a company to write and publish an annual statement on forced labour, child labour and trafficking in human beings, Shimadzu Europa GmbH supports this law and assures to reject all forms of forced labour, human trafficking and child labour.

The "UK Modern Slavery Act 2015" is a law that is consistent with our company's own "Code of Ethics". lt commits us to comply with all applicable laws and regulations, such as the "General Equal Treatment Act" or the "Minimum Wage Payment Act".

The following measures were implemented in the past fiscal year 2022/2023 in order to communicate the ethical and moral values within the company and to ensure compliance with them:

  • Passing on the Code of Ethics to new employees (m/f/d) and making them aware of it before/when they start work.
  • Implementation of global policy to monitor compliance with ethics, compliance and risk management rules.
  • Continuous Performance of in-house training courses for all employees (m/f/d) through e-learning including the topic "Code of Conduct“
  • Information and access to the "Code of Ethics" always through (electronic) publication
  • Review of compliance with the “Code of Ethics” through regular meetings of the Ethics Board
  • Regular information of employees (m/f/d) about updated and new occupational health and safety laws
  • Regular monitoring of compliance with the “Minimum Wage Payment Act"
  • Compliance with and regular review of the Corona occupational health and safety regulations of the federal government and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia
    Supplier survey and evaluation of compliance with the "Modern Slavery Act" for top 80 suppliers (Analytic/Medical)

 

Shimadzu Europa GmbH

 

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Statement of Shimadzu Group

Corporate Code of Ethics

Principles of Conduct

  • Customer-Oriented Approach
    Through the development of original technology, we shall provide high-quality products and services that society truly needs at reasonable prices on a timely basis, thereby contributing to society through business.

     

  • Fairness and Transparency
    We shall, observe all applicable laws, regulations, and other social norms, and act in an open and fair manner, in our business activities that are developed in various countries or when representing the company in our private lives.
    We shall maintain a healthy and proper relationship with political and governing bodies and not engage in any activities that contradict our own sense of social decency, such as involvement with groups or individuals that exert a negative influence on social order or healthy corporate activity.

     

  • Dialogues with Stakeholders
    We shall establish a relationship of trust with our stakeholders, including our customers, shareholders, business partners, employees, and regional communities. For this purpose, we shall disclose mutually beneficial information suitably, appropriately, and intelligibly for smooth and reciprocal communications. We shall consider and incorporate external opinions and expectations, and other information appropriately into our business activities in prompt manner.

     

  • Contribution to Society and Global Environmental Conservation
    We shall take a long-term, global perspective in continuing to contribute to society through our business activities, strive for harmony with local communities, and execute our social responsibilities. Recognizing the fact that tackling environmental problems is an important issue with respect to our corporate identity, we shall voluntarily and actively strive to contribute to the conservation of the global environment and the well-being of mankind.

     

  • Respect for the Creativity and Individuality of Employees
    We shall strive to maintain a working environment that allows individual employees to, through their work, express their creativity and individuality, to freely strive for self-actualization, and to continuously make a valuable contribution to the company.
    We shall respect the rights of the individual and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, language, nationality, religion, physical handicaps, beliefs, or for any other reason.

Conduct Guidelines

  • Conduct Guidelines Related to Compliance
    In both our business activities and when representing the company in our daily lives, we shall respect and observe all applicable laws, regulations, and other social norms. In addition, in the event of an accident, we will act with sincerity and integrity.

     

  • Conduct Guidelines Related to Contributing to Society Through Business Activities
    We shall strive to provide the products and services that society truly needs, while challenging ourselves to develop new technologies and to pioneer new ventures, with the aim of contributing to an abundant future for mankind.

     

  • Conduct Guidelines Related to Providing Products and Services That Are Safe, Trusted, and Worry-Free
    We shall give top priority to providing customers with products and services that are safe, trusted, and worry-free.

     

  • Conduct Guidelines Related to Science and Technology Ethics
    We shall treat science and technology very seriously, maintaining fairness, sincerity, and responsibility for all decisions and actions in processes ranging from R&D to service.

     

  • Conduct Guidelines Related to Fair Trading
    We shall conduct business transactions fairly, in a mutually beneficial manner, and using common sense.

     

  • Conduct Guidelines Related to Interactions in the Course of One's Duties
    We shall not, in the course of our duties, interact with public officials, private business partners, or affiliates in a manner that violates the law or socially-accepted practices.

     

  • Conduct Guidelines Related to the Observance of Antitrust Laws
    We shall not engage in activities aimed at unfairly restricting transactions or eliminating free competition.

     

  • Conduct Guidelines Related to the Disclosure and Transmission of Correct Information
    We shall disclose and transmit correct information with integrity, in a fair and timely manner.

     

  • Conduct Guidelines Related to the Appropriate Control of Confidential Information
    We shall acquire and safely protect confidential information relevant to our business processes (including personal information), from within our own company and other companies, in accordance with appropriate rules. In addition, we shall not use such information for purposes other than the original intent or disclose it to other parties.

     

  • Conduct Guidelines Related to Insider Trading
    We shall not use inside information for personal gain.

     

  •  Conduct Guidelines Related to Fair Job Behavior
    We shall not use the company unfairly for our personal benefit or abuse our position of authority.

     

  •  Conduct Guidelines Related to Health and Safety
    We shall provide a workplace environment where employees can work safely and securely and we shall strive to maintain or improve employee health.

     

  •  Conduct Guidelines Related to Respecting the Human Rights and Diversity of Employees
    We shall respect the human rights, personalities, and individuality (diversity) of all employees. We shall also strive to utilize human resources and create a workplace in a manner that fully utilizes the abilities of all employees and achieves a healthy balance between work and personal life (work-life balance).

     

  •  Conduct Guidelines Related to Anti-Social Elements
    We shall resolutely oppose the influence of anti-social elements and shall completely avoid all such involvements.

     

  •  Conduct Guidelines Related to International Activities
    Based on an international perspective and our desire for world peace and the protection of the environment and human rights, we shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations of relevant countries and respect their cultures and values in our business activities.

     

  •  Conduct Guidelines Related to Society
    Through our business activities, we shall actively engage in contributing to the advancement of society and fulfill the corporate social responsibilities (CSR) expected of global companies.

     

  •  Conduct Guidelines Related to the Global Environment
    We shall conserve the global environment and strive to achieve a sustainable society.

Our Commitments

  • Respecting Human Rights

    1. Respecting Human Rights

    We shall respect and never violate human rights established based on international norms. Furthermore, we shall not harm the character or dignity of other people, such as engaging in any of various types of harassment.

  • Abolishing Hiring or Career Discrimination

    3. Abolishing Hiring or Career Discrimination

    We shall not discriminate in hiring, based on factors such as race, gender, language, nationality, religion, physical handicaps, or beliefs. In addition, we shall ensure equal opportunities for workers and treat them fairly based on factors such as competence and job duties.

  • Permitting Freedom of Association and Right of Collective Bargaining​

    4. Permitting Freedom of Association and Right of Collective Bargaining​

    We shall permit workers freedom of association and shall engage in constructive discussions with labor representatives regarding workplace problems, based on applicable international norms and laws and regulations of corresponding countries.

  • Maintaining Appropriate Working Conditions

    5. Maintaining Appropriate Working Conditions

    We shall specify and appropriately implement working conditions, such a working hours and wages, based on applicable laws and regulations of the corresponding countries.