Social
Approach & Policy
Hitachi respects and supports human rights as recorded in the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. The Hitachi Group Code of Ethics and Business Conduct, common throughout the group, provides for compliance with the laws of each country and region, as well as for upholding of the fundamental rights of employees in line with international standards. We respect freedom of association, the right to organize, and the right to collective bargaining as human rights that are particularly relevant to the workplace. Onboarding training and the Hitachi Group Corporate Ethics Month (annual) represent some of the ways we strive to help employees understand these rights. In addition, we have signed the United Nations Global Compact, which states, “businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining.”
Hitachi Group Code of Ethics and Business ConductActivities
The relationship between employees and management at Hitachi is stable with healthy ongoing dialogue.
In Japan, group companies ensure the three fundamental rights of trade unions (the right to organize, the right to collective bargaining, and the right to collective action). We strive to promote mutual understanding through dialogue between employees and management throughout the entire group. In addition, the Central Management Council, the Business Units Management Council, and the Business Sites Management Council work to enhance mutual communication between employees and management.
At Hitachi, Ltd., we hold quarterly Hitachi Group management meetings with the trade unions of group companies in Japan that belong to the Federation of Hitachi Group Workers Unions (FHGWU) to share information and exchange views and opinions on group business conditions. In addition, we have established five round-table conferences and committees, such as the Hitachi Group Health and Safety Roundtable Conference, which each meet once or twice a year to share information and exchange opinions. We have also established 14 committees, advisory panels, and roundtable conferences, including the Next 100 Labor and Management Committee, the Central Compensation Committee, and the Employment and Work Style Committee, to meet one to four times a year to share information, exchange opinions, and hold discussions.
Hitachi, Ltd. and the Hitachi Workers Union have been bound by a collective agreement since 1951. Every other year, as part of the union-management negotiations held each spring, we renew our collective agreement following discussion of revisions for the improvement of working conditions. Our group companies in Japan have also concluded collective agreements between employees and management and revise these on an ongoing basis.
In addition, the employee membership rate in trade unions, etc., in major group companies in Japan (60 companies) is approximately 97% as of March 31, 2024. All Hitachi, Ltd. employees, with the exception of managers, can join the Workers Union, and the membership rate is approximately 96% as of March 31, 2024.
Group companies outside Japan also pursue dialogues with individual trade unions and their representatives in accordance with the laws and regulations in each country and region. These dialogues deepen mutual understanding of employee working conditions and compensation treatment, as well as business conditions.
For example, Hitachi Europe holds an annual European Labor-Management Council meeting to provide a forum for management and employees to exchange views on the group’s business environment and strategies.
Hitachi China holds an annual management information meeting with the industrial association (trade union) to facilitate smooth communications with employees and share information on business conditions and issues. In addition, the company and the industrial association concluded collective agreements on working conditions, wage revisions, the protection of female employees, and other matters to protect the rights and interests of employees.
In fiscal 2023, no Hitachi Group operating sites reported violations of freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining.
Activities
The collective agreement between Hitachi, Ltd. and the Hitachi Workers Union states that any transfer or reassignment of an employee for work-related reasons should adequately take into consideration the situation of the employee as well as requiring the company to promptly inform the Hitachi Workers Union of the decision. More specifically, the company consults with the union regarding basic matters related to large-scale transfers, reassignments, or changing the company.
Activities
Hitachi, Ltd. and the Hitachi Workers Union are dedicated to improving occupational health and safety levels through employee management cooperation. This includes signing a collective agreement on the promotion of occupational health and safety measures, a health and safety committee, education and training programs, and health checks for employees etc.
The Health and Safety Committee works with group companies in Japan to ensure a healthy and safe work environment through initiatives that include formulating and tracking an annual occupational health and safety plan. The committee also reviews measures to prevent occupational accidents and shares information on the health checkup status.