Translations

HITACHI European Diversity and Human Rights Project

2. Human Rights

Diversity, equal opportunity, and fighting discrimination

Sector Industry

Year 2010

Country France

Transmitter

Context

Hitachi is a Japanese multinational corporation specializing in high-technology and services. It was founded in 1910 as an electrical repair shop. Today, Hitachi is the third largest technological company by revenue as of 2009.

Hitachi’s European CSR team carried out a survey across the 27 Hitachi business groups in Europe in 2009 which indicated that most businesses had a low number of female employees, particularly at the management and senior management levels. The results also showed that many business groups were below best practice in terms of ensuring that human rights are respected among employees and suppliers. The European Diversity and Human Rights project was launched to go beyond compliance and realise the business benefits of addressing these key issues.

Objectives

Foster a culture where there is awareness, understanding and appreciation of human rights and diversity at every employee level.

APPROACH

- Ensure that basic international human rights standards are understood and the need to meet them appreciated by Hitachi in Europe’s sphere of influence.

- Support Business Groups in developing action plans which contribute to the company’s strategic human rights focus on gender diversity, and enable them to establish unique contributions to social sustainability.

Education, Communication, Support

- Educate all employees via elearning and information materials and managers through interacting workshop sessions.
- Communicate compliance standards to employees, including guidance on respecting Human Rights. Also communicate Human Rights expectations to suppliers and assess their approach.
- Support business groups through providing useful tools, advising on action plans and monitoring their progress.

CONTRIBUTION TO COMPANY PERFORMANCE

Improving innovation through a diverse workforce with diverse thinking.
New business opportunities - Human Rights align with and reinforce Hitachi’s strategic focus on the ‘social innovation business’.

Benefits

Meeting and exceeding international standards.
Encouraging respect for human rights down the supply chain, providing protection for children and against bonded labour.