The Mitsubishi Electric Group has established multiple human rights contact desks, including the external contact point JaCER,* to receive inquiries from all stakeholders involved in its business activities—such as employees, business partners, customers, consumers, and local communities. These contact desks are accessible year-round and support anonymous reporting.
Human Rights
Concept of Respect for Human Rights
Policy on Respect for Human Rights
Protection of human rights and support for internationally agreed human rights are imperatives for the Mitsubishi Electric Group’s business activities. Accordingly, as members of the Group, we recognize our duty to prevent any complicity with human rights violations.
In August 2024, we revised our Human Rights Policy in response to changes in the social environment surrounding human rights.
Other Policies Related to Human Rights
With regard to specific issues such as the human rights of our Group employees and those of supply chain employees, the ethical use of technology, and privacy and information security, we are taking concrete action based on the relevant policies outlined below to make our human rights initiatives more effective.
Management System Related to Respecting Human Rights
To advance our efforts in respecting human rights, the Human Rights Subcommittee—under the Sustainability Committee—deliberates and approves relevant policies and plans, and reviews progress and implementation outcomes. Subsequently, those points are discussed within the Sustainability Committee, then reported to the Executive Officers’ Meeting for further deliberation, and are subject to oversight by the Board of Directors. Given the wide-ranging nature of human rights issues, the Human Rights Subcommittee determines strategic direction for cross-functional matters and assigns clear departmental responsibilities to ensure effective implementation.
In addition, the Human Rights Working Group, which is composed of Section Manager-level members from the divisions that make up the Human Rights Subcommittee, examines the practical implementation of various human rights-related initiatives.
In fiscal 2025, the Human Rights Subcommittee met three times, while the Human Rights Working Group met ten times.
Human Rights Management
Mid- to Long-Term Goals and Roadmap for Human Rights Initiatives
We pursue human rights initiatives based on a defined mid- to long-term goals and the roadmap.
In the short term (one year), specific action items and KPIs are set, and the Human Rights Subcommittee and the Sustainability Committee follow up on the results.
Mid- to long-term goals and the roadmap for human rights initiatives (in brief)
Human Rights Due Diligence
The Mitsubishi Electric Group is committed to human rights due diligence (human rights DD) in accordance with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
The Group periodically carries out “Human Rights Impact Assessments” in order to assess the impact of the Group’s business activities on human rights and also strives to enhance the management of identified risks.
Identifying and Assessing Negative Impacts on Human Rights (Human Rights Impact Assessment)
Since fiscal 2024, the Mitsubishi Electric Group has been working in collaboration with Business for Social Responsibility (BSR), a U.S.-based sustainability organization, to conduct human rights impact assessments based on global standards. The impact assessment involved desktop research followed by identification of potential risks in the Mitsubishi Electric Group’s value chain through interviews with each corporate department and prioritization of human rights issues from the perspectives of importance, likelihood of occurrence, and relevance to business. As a result, the Group identified the priority human rights issues among potential issues that could impact its stakeholders, as shown in the figure below.
The Group has also begun conducting RBA Self-Assessment Questionnaires (RBA-SAQs) at its own manufacturing sites to identify human rights risks at the site level.
Human rights issues that may be affected by the Mitsubishi Electric Group’s Business Activities
Correcting, Preventing, and Mitigating Negative Impacts on Human Rights
BSR provided recommendations on the human rights issues identified in the previous section to prevent them from occurring. The Mitsubishi Electric Group has formulated improvement measures to address these recommendations and began implementing them in FY2025. Key activities carried out in FY2025 are outlined below.
Initiatives Addressing Significant Human Rights Issues: FY2025 Achievements and FY2026 Key Initiative Plans
| Key Recommendations from BSR (Selected Items) | FY2025 Achievements | Future Challenges (Key Initiatives for FY2026) | |
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| Employees’ Human Rights |
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| Supply Chain’s Human Rights |
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| Human Rights of Consumers and Communities |
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Tracking and Evaluating Human Rights Initiatives
The Human Rights Subcommittee periodically verifies the status of activities to address the BSR recommendations. It also monitors working conditions at Mitsubishi Electric Group’s manufacturing sites and at suppliers using the RBA Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) to identify and assess potential risks.
Initiatives Related to Employee Human Rights
Basic Policy
Mitsubishi Electric Group is committed to respecting the basic rights of employees, an approach that is included in the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well as the United Nations Global Compact, as provided in Mitsubishi Electric Group Code of Conduct.
In addition, Mitsubishi Electric respects the freedom of association as a company and assures Mitsubishi Electric labor union to hold the three basic rights of labor (the right to organize, the right to collective bargaining, and the right to act collectively), under the labor agreement entered into between Mitsubishi Electric and Mitsubishi Electric labor union.
Relationship with Labor Union
Based on the labor agreement, Mitsubishi Electric implements the following.
- The Company and labor union periodically hold meetings of a management council and labor council and have active communication.
- Under the union-shop system, all employees (excluding management-level employees) become union members after completing a trial period, as a rule.
- Working conditions for employees not covered by this labor agreement are determined based on individual employment status and laws related to equal pay for equal work.
- Associated companies in and outside of Japan also share the principle of holding thorough rational discussions between labor and management, and endeavor to maintain and improve sound working conditions and workplace environments in compliance with labor-related laws and regulations concerning employment, personnel affairs, work duties, wages, working hours, immigration control, and so on in the countries and regions where they do business, as well as with internal regulations and procedures.
- The labor contract stipulates that Mitsubishi Electric will swiftly notify the labor union of secondments and transfers of employees within and outside the organization for business reasons. The contract also states that, particularly when large numbers of employees will be seconded or transferred within or outside the organization, the Company will consult with the labor union regarding the basic terms.
Human Rights Initiatives in the Supply Chain; Joining the RBA
In 2024, the objectivity and transparency of the Mitsubishi Electric Group’s human rights initiatives in sustainable procurement was enhanced through the alignment of our own operations with the provisions of the RBA Code of Conduct, the global standard. We will continue to promote ongoing improvement of our sustainable procurement efforts. Following our transition to regular membership in the RBA in February 2025, we are further strengthening our efforts to continuously improve sustainable procurement practices.
Compliance with Laws and Regulations on Human Rights
Relevant divisions within the Mitsubishi Electric Group are collaborating to respond in a timely and appropriate manner to legislation being developed in various countries regarding the implementation of human rights due diligence by companies.
Our statements on the UK Modern Slavery Act, the Australian Modern Slavery Act, Norway’s Transparency Act, and Canada’s Modern Slavery Act are posted on our official website.
Human Rights Education
The Mitsubishi Electric Group takes various opportunities to educate its employees on human rights.
| Training | Content |
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| Human Rights Week | To raise awareness of human rights within the company, the Company delivers messages explaining social trends in the area of business and human rights and the objectives of Mitsubishi Electric’s initiatives to employees of Mitsubishi Electric and associated companies in and outside of Japan during Human Rights Week (December 4–10). In FY2025, we developed a human rights awareness video in four languages and distributed it throughout the Group. |
Company-wide training (e-learning) |
In the “Mitsubishi Electric Group Sustainability” e-learning course for all employees of Mitsubishi Electric and its associated companies in Japan, we provide opportunities to deepen their understanding of human rights issues and the Group’s related initiatives, including the concept of “Business and Human Rights.” |
| Job-level specific training | For new employees and newly appointed managers, we provide ongoing training programs regarding human rights. In the training for managers, after completing the course, participants confirm from a manager’s perspective whether any problems have occurred in their own workplaces, thereby facilitating the realization of workplace environments in which employees can work comfortably. |
| Harassment Prevention Education | Mitsubishi Electric and its associated companies in Japan provide harassment prevention education to all employees, promoting a correct understanding of harassing behavior and encouraging the development of appropriate communication skills. |
Grievance Mechanism
Human Rights Contact Desk
- The Japan Center for Engagement and Remedy on Business and Human Rights (JaCER) provides a nonjudicial platform for addressing grievances in accordance with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
Discussion with External Parties
In order to make the Mitsubishi Electric Group’s efforts for human rights issues effective, we have discussions with experts, human rights NGOs and other parties to receive advice on human rights initiatives.
In June 2025, we had the opportunity to explain Mitsubishi Electric Group's initiatives to respect human rights to Ms. Asako Nagai, Managing Director of BSR, and to receive her feedback on the overall assessment and future expectations.
Asako Nagai, Managing Director of BSR
The Mitsubishi Electric Group demonstrates its commitment to human rights across the value chain—including employees, supply chain workers, customers, consumers, and local communities—through its Mitsubishi Electric Group Human Rights Policy. In 2023, the Group established the Mitsubishi Electric Group Supply Chain Code of Conduct, and in 2024 transitioned to regular membership in the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA), a recognized industry standard. In addition, the Group has established multiple grievance mechanisms related to human rights, including an external channel via JaCER (Japan Center for Engagement and Remedy on Business and Human Rights), ensuring progress in its human rights initiatives.
We hope to see further reinforcement of these efforts through:
1) Setting and managing goals that incorporate KPIs and other indicators to give greater concreteness to mid- to long-term plans and roadmaps
2) Reliable risk mitigation, including self-assessments and on-site evaluations
3) Enhancing understanding of human rights through expanded training and education for all personnel—from executive leadership to general employees
The feedback received will be discussed within the Human Rights Subcommittee and reflected in the Mitsubishi Electric Group’s future human rights initiatives, as part of our commitment to continuous improvement.