We have received from key persons in various sectors the messages which welcome the launch of "Engagement" and "Remedy" Guidelines and expect the dissemination of the Guidelines. 

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Ms. Cristina Tébar Less  Head, OECD Centre for Responsible Business Conduct

The OECD Guidelines for MNEs and related tools and instruments on Responsible Business Conduct, reflect internationally agreed expectations for business to address their adverse impacts on people and the planet across their supply chains. Meaningful stakeholder engagement, enabling and supporting access to remedy, and legitimate remediation mechanisms, including corporate level grievance mechanisms, are critical components of supply chain due diligence and recognised in the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Business Conduct. The OECD Centre for Responsible Business Conduct commends the efforts of the Global Compact Network Japan and the Business and Human Rights Lawyers Network in developing the "Engagement" and "Remedy" Guidelines for the Promotion of Responsible Business Conduct and Supply Chains, and looks forward to continued collaboration.

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Ms. Akiko Taguchi   Director, ILO Office for Japan

We are delighted to be invited to participate in the formulation of the Guidelines. As Japanese enterprises have had an increased impact on people working around the world through their supply chains, we become aware that the appropriate and courageous business actions contribute to the economic and social development of other host countries. In order to realise responsible business conducts, engagement and collaboration with stakeholders as complements to due diligence efforts will play a crucial role (Section 10(e) of the ILO MNE Declaration). This will contribute to an increased productivity in the workplace, prevent labour disputes, and promote of sustainable economic growth and decent work as set forth in SDGs Target 8. The Engagement and Remedy Guidelines cites the ILO MNE Declaration, which is a guidance document for enterprises with regard to the ILO International Labour Standards. We hope that the Guidelines will be referenced and implemented by many enterprises and stakeholders.

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Attorney Akira Kawamura  President of Japan Association of Arbitrator; Former President of International Bar Association; and Of Counsel of Anderson Mori & Tomotsune

In recent years, as the corporate environment has become globalized and the supply chain has grown beyond national borders, the areas of risk management and compliance that companies must pay attention to have dramatically expanded, and the contents are expected to deepen beyond mere compliance with laws and regulations. These trends have been shown by the fact that the ethical legitimacy of products produced under severe working conditions in developing countries has been questioned and that the Sarbanes–Oxley Act has called for the compliance with corporate ethics for the stakeholders of society. The Engagement and Remedy Guidelines present a method for companies to effectively address the global environment of uncertainty. I hope that the Guidelines will be further refined and deepened to support the globalization of companies.

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Ms. Carine Smith Ihenacho　Chief Corporate Governance Officer, Norges Bank Investment Management 

Japan Responsible Supply Chains Committee has drafted comprehensive Engagement and Remedy Guidelines for Promoting Responsible Business Conduct and Supply Chains. We believe that the document’s principle based approach provides valuable and comprehensive guidance to companies.

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Ms. Miyuki Zeniya　Head of Sustainable Finance, The Dai-ichi Life Insurance Company, Limited

In a recent society that strongly seeks for a sustainable society, the Engagement and Remedy Guidelines provides guide for dialogue, handling complaints, and resolving issues with the society, which are essential for companies to think about  their Businesses and Human Rights issues. It is a guidebook that is easy to understand for many Japanese business people who are working to solve SDGs challenges, and for those who have started to get interested in this subject. Overseas investors have already become aware that corporate actions based on a human rights perspective, such as gender diversity and supply chains, are indispensable. As an institutional investor in Japan that promotes ESG investment, I hope that many people will use this Guidelines as a reference.

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Mr. Minoru Matsubara   General Manager, Responsible Investment Division, Resona Asset Management

I would like to express my sincere appreciation for your participation in the Guidelines as an investor. Climate change and supply chain risk (human rights) are major issues in financial markets, particularly for investors. Investors around the world are particularly aware of human rights issues, and we plan to provide support from 2020 for resolving various issues in the supply chain in line with these Guidelines. I would like to request all companies to raise their interest in these initiatives, and to encourage more companies to refer to the Guidelines.
 

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