Respect for Human Rights

The “K” LINE Group stipulates Respect for Human Rights at the start of its Charter of Conduct. The Group is a signatory of the United Nations Global Compact and has expressed its support for the principles related to human rights and labor. The “K” LINE Group Basic Policy on Human Rights was drawn up based on the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Management is committed to conducting human rights due diligence.

Based on the policy above, under the supervision of the Corporate Sustainability Management Committee and the direction of the executive officer in charge of corporate sustainability, the Corporate Sustainability, Environment Management, IR and Communication Group has become in charge of implementing human rights due diligence, including the drawing up of measures as well as analysis and assessment of human rights risks related to the business activities of the “K” LINE Group.

The “K” LINE Group has been accelerating its human rights due diligence efforts since fiscal 2022, conducting a human rights impact assessment on employees of the Company and its Group companies in the first fiscal year, and identifying priority issues while considering countermeasures.

In the period from fiscal 2023 to the first half of fiscal 2024, we extended the scope to the supply chain, and implemented the following:

(1) Analysis of the current status of the Company’s procurementrelated initiatives
(2) Consideration of revisions to procurement policies and supplier guidelines
(3) Consideration of the implementation framework for sustainable procurement

From the second half of fiscal 2024 onwards, as part of sustainable procurement, we plan to intensify human rights due diligence within the supply chain by revising and disseminating procurement policies and supplier guidelines, while also conducting human rights impact assessments through surveys.

The Company aims to maintain and improve working environments and to build good relationships between workers and management. We engage in constructive dialogue combining reciprocal perspectives to generate ideas, which we incorporate into our systems to support work–life balance and other aspects of workers’ lives.

The “K” LINE Group has been increasing its diversity in terms of gender, nationality, and so on, corresponding to the globalization of its business activities, with the expectation that improved diversity may contribute to the creation of new ideas that result in future business growth and the sustainable growth of the Company. It will continue to improve HR systems and work environments so that it can support and promote diversity further.
In addition, seafarers working on board vessels come from different parts of the world, including the Philippines, India, Bangladesh, China, and elsewhere in Asia, as well as Bulgaria, Croatia, and other European nations. United as one, they work day and night to ensure the safety in navigation and cargo operations of our fleet.

“K” LINE has established a dedicated consultation service to address issues of sexual harassment, power harassment, and mental health. Information on how to use these services is provided on the corporate portal site, along with contact details for the consultation service. The Company has set up a system that allows it to solve problems quickly while giving maximum consideration to the privacy of persons who wish to have a consultation, for example, by offering access to both male and female consultants and industrial physicians and so on. In addition, we hold seminars for executives and employees on the subject of preventing harassment.

※1 Postponed due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
※2 In fiscal 2021, the seminars did not target all employees, but limited participation to specific management positions. 

In accordance with the United Kingdom’s Modern Slavery Act 2015 legislation, Group companies in the U.K. have published the Modern Slavery Act Transparency Statement.

●“K” Line Holding (Europe) Limited

Modern Slavery Act Transparency Statement