Respect for human rights is the foundation of all of activities and lies at the core of a company’s social responsibility, and as a financial group working alongside diverse members of our local community, we believe we have a mission to pursue initiatives that ensure the dignity and rights of all people we engage with are protected, regardless of business size or field.
Based on this belief, our Human Rights Policy, established in June 2023, adheres to international human rights standards such as the International Bill of Human Rights, the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and the Children’s Rights and Business Principles, and applies to all employees of the Group.
We will continue to promote organization-wide understanding and adoption of this policy and expand our human rights initiatives.
In November 2024, the Group established a new Human Rights Response Working Group as a subordinate organization under the Sustainability Promotion Committee.
To deepen understanding of human rights and to remain an organization that consistently respects human rights, this newly established cross‑functional working group plays a central role in promoting a continuous cycle of identifying, analyzing, and addressing human rights risks across the Group.
The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights present a framework for preventing, mitigating, and providing remedy for adverse impacts on human rights caused by business activities. This framework is based on three pillars: a policy commitment, the implementation of human rights due diligence (HRDD), and access to remedy.
In line with this framework, the Group is advancing human rights due diligence initiatives. In FY2024, as an initial step to identify adverse impacts on human rights, the Group conducted a preliminary assessment to identify human rights risks based on past internal whistleblowing cases.
In FY2025, the Group will seek to comprehensively identify human rights risks throughout its value chain. The identified risks will be assessed based on two axes—severity and likelihood of occurrence—and the Group will address them in order of priority, starting with those deemed to be of higher significance.
The Group has established a Group‑wide whistleblowing system, the Compliance Hotline*, as a mechanism for remediation. In addition, the Group operates the “Any Compliance Issue Help Desk,” which broadly accepts consultations and inquiries concerning employees’ compliance‑related concerns and issues.
Through these contact points, the Group has put in place systems and remediation processes for receiving and appropriately responding to a wide range of reports and consultations, including those related to human rights issues.
With regard to reports and consultations, the Group ensures strict information management. Systems are in place to protect the privacy of reporters and consultation users, as well as that of all related parties, including the confidentiality of personal information and the details of reports and consultations.
*The Compliance Hotline consists of both internal and external contact points. For the external contact point, users may choose to consult with either a male or female attorney.
To ensure the effectiveness and appropriateness of its compliance framework, the Group has established a compliance supervision function and promotes the development of compliance systems as well as education and training for officers and employees.
The Group’s Compliance Supervisory Division works in close coordination with the compliance functions of each Group company and centrally manages compliance‑related matters across the Group.
In addition, the YMFG Group has established the Group Compliance Committee as a deliberative body. Important matters deliberated and reported by this Committee, which is chaired by the President and CEO, are submitted and reported to the Group Management Executive Committee and subsequently to the Board of Directors, where appropriate supervision is exercised.
To ensure Group‑wide compliance, the Group regularly provides training for all employees, including part‑time employees, temporary staff, and contract employees.
As part of its compliance program, the Group implements initiatives such as compliance meetings, knowledge‑based training tests, and training tailored to different job levels, as well as information dissemination via the internal intranet.
These initiatives address a wide range of topics, including respect for human rights, harassment prevention, and anti‑corruption, with the aim of reinforcing both knowledge and awareness and ensuring their integration into daily conduct and behavior.
The implementation status and outcomes of this program are regularly reported to the Group Compliance Committee and the Board of Directors, where appropriate oversight is exercised.