Business and Human Rights
Approach and Policy
The business activities of the SMM Group affect the human rights of its stakeholders, particularly local residents
and indigenous peoples, employees in the supply chain, and employees of the SMM Group. Further,
stakeholders associated with our Group may be involved in adverse impacts to human rights.
Our Group supports the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and, in accordance with
our Group’s human rights policy, promotes initiatives to uphold human rights, including the implementation
of due diligence and the operation of grievance (remedy) mechanisms.
Promotion Structure
The Diversity Subcommittee and the Human Rights Subcommittee, which are subordinate organizations of the Sustainability Committee overseen by the Board of Directors and chaired by the president, report regularly to the Committee on their activities and reflect them in the Group policies and procedures to promote initiatives. We particularly focus our efforts in the three areas of employees of the SMM Group, local residents and indigenous peoples, and employees in the supply chain, who are the stakeholders affected by the Group’s business activities.
Promotion Structure
Regarding the human rights of employees of the SMM Group, the Diversity Subcommittee, with the Human Resources Department
serving as its secretariat, works with business divisions and operational divisions in the Head Office to address human rights issues
through our organizational structure.
Regarding the human rights of local residents and indigenous peoples, and supply chain (including employees therein), the
Human Rights Subcommittee, with the Sustainability Department serving as its secretariat, works with business divisions and operational
divisions in the Head Office to address each group of stakeholders.
Our efforts include the formulation of policies, due diligence, and operation of a grievance (remedy) mechanism in accordance
with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (see figure below).
Business and Human Rights Initiatives Process Diagram
Human Rights Due Diligence Initiatives
Our Group supports the UN Guiding Principles and conducts human rights due diligence (DD) in accordance with the OECD Due
Diligence Guidance for Responsible Business Conduct, and others.
We seek to cease, prevent, and mitigate adverse impacts on human rights as expressed in the ILO Core Labor Standards (10 conventions
in five areas: effective approval of freedom of association and workers’ right to collective bargaining; prohibition of all
forms of forced labor; effective elimination of child labor; elimination of discrimination in employment and occupation; safe and
healthy working environment). As human rights risks in the business value chain, we promote initiatives with particular emphasis
on three areas: Employees of the SMM Group1, local residents and indigenous peoples,2 and supply chain (including employees
therein),3 which are impacted by our business activities.
Grievance Mechanism: Membership in JaCER
SMM has joined the Japan Center for Engagement and Remedy on Business and Human Rights (JaCER)1 established in 2022 as a
founding member (regular member). JaCER is an organization that aims to support and promote the redress of grievances of member
companies from a professional standpoint by providing a non-judicial Engagement and Remedy Platform for grievance redress
based on the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. They also established an Advisory Board consisting
of external experts and an Advisory and Mediation Panel and Investigation Panel consisting of independent expert individuals and
organizations.
In addition to existing mechanisms such as the Whistle-blowing System (Speak Up System),2 the Group will also utilize the platform
provided by JaCER to operate a more transparent and effective grievance (remedy) mechanism.
• Grievances received by JaCER about the Group: 0 (FY2022)
Outline of SMM Group’s human rights policy (The Sumitomo Metal Mining Group Policy on Human Rights
Our Group’s Approach to Respect for Human Rights
Our Group takes utmost care not to infringe on the human rights of all people, avoids causing or contributing to adverse human rights impacts through our business activities, and works toward correcting and remedying any such situation that may arise. Further, if a stakeholder is involved in adverse impacts on human rights, we will encourage that stakeholder not to violate human rights and cooperate through corrective or remedial actions.
Human Rights Issues within the SMM Group
SMM Group’s human rights policy sets forth its commitments on fundamental human rights issues, including respect for children’s rights and prohibition of child labor, and prohibition of discrimination, harassment, and bullying on the basis of race, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, and other factors. We are also committed to respecting human rights based on international norms such as the International Bill of Human Rights, the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, and the Mining Principles of the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM),* an industry organization for which we are a member. In the unlikely event of a conflict between applicable laws and regulations and international norms on human rights in the regions in which we operate, we seek ways to respect international norms while complying with the laws and regulations.
Internal and External Communications of the Human Rights Policy
We have produced educational materials in video format available to all SMM Group employees, which includes an overview of the policy, messages from top management, and commentary from experts, and share them in internal human rights training and other programs. In addition, to ensure that our stakeholders, especially our business partners, understand our approach and efforts to respect human rights, we communicate Sumitomo Metal Mining Group’s Sustainability Procurement Policy, established in line with our human rights policy.
