Japan Starts 1st Survey on Human Rights Issues in Supply Chains

Tokyo, Sept. 16 (Jiji Press)--With forced labor in supply chains being thrust into the limelight as an international issue, Japan's industry ministry is currently conducting its first survey on how companies in the country are tackling human rights issues. If such measures are deemed inadequate by the international community, there is a risk of Japan-made products being shunned from the global market and companies lagging behind in competitiveness. The ministry is planning to consider whether to develop a law on such matters, by analyzing the results of the survey. The survey covers around 2,700 companies They include all of the about 2,600 companies listed on the first and second sections of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, as well as some unlisted companies, such as those in the textile industry. The survey asks companies on their measures to prevent human rights violations throughout the supply chain, including those introduced at their raw material suppliers, and on obstacles that they face over implementing such measures. The ministry hopes to complete the survey by the end of this month and compile results by the end of this year. Moves to establish human rights due diligence laws to abolish forced labor and prevent the risk of human rights violations in supply chains have spread mainly in Europe and the United States. As Japan is the only Group of Seven country that has fallen behind on legislation efforts, such a delay may hinder transactions and investments. An official of the ministry said that some within the business world have urged the Japanese government to establish such a law. The international community has recently voiced concerns about alleged forced labor in China's Xinjiang Uighur autonomous region. Japanese companies have also been pressed to take action over the use of Xinjiang cotton, with the United States blocking imports of Uniqlo brand shirts made by Japan's Fast Retailing Co. <9983>. END