House Foods Group Human Rights Policy
“Through food, we aim to be a good corporate citizen, connecting and collaborating with people
to create smiles in their lives” is the Group Philosophy of the House Foods Group.
We have established our Group Philosophy to reflect our desire as a corporate citizen to be a
good partner to our various stakeholders by taking into account the three responsibilities we must fulfil as a
corporate citizen: responsibility for our customers, responsibility for our employees and their families, and
responsibility for society.
We will be continuing our journey, to strive to serve as a good partner putting smiles on the
faces of our customers, as well as our employees and their families, and bringing happiness to society, all
through food.
If we are to continue prospering together with society, it is imperative that we contribute to
society through our business activities, and we are alive to the fact that all stages of our business
activities can potentially have a direct or indirect impact on human rights. This is why we have established
the House Foods Group Human Rights Policy, to ensure that the human rights of all those who are affected by
our business activities are respected.
We are determined and united as one group in our endeavors to respect human rights.
- 1. Our basic approach
We will respect international standards on human
rights including the International Bill of Human Rights (the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; the
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; and the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights), which defines the basic human rights everyone around the world is entitled to, as well as
the International Labour Organization’s ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and the
follow-up to the said declaration, which define basic rights at work.
We will strive to fulfil our
responsibility to respect human rights, in accordance with the United Nation’s Guiding Principles on
Business and Human Rights.
We will comply with the applicable laws and regulations of the countries
and regions in which we operate. Should any conflict between international standards on human rights and the
applicable laws and regulations arise, we will explore means to respect the international standards whilst
complying with the applicable laws and regulations.
In accordance with the House Foods Group Action
Guidelines, we will respect not only the basic human rights, but also the diversity, personality,
individuality, and privacy of all individuals; we will not tolerate any infringement of human rights
whatsoever.
- 2. The scope of this Policy
This Policy applies to all
executives and employees of the House Foods Group (including part-time workers, contract workers, and
dispatched workers). We also ask our suppliers and business partners, who are involved in the products and
services provided by the House Foods Group, to support this Policy.
- 3. Human rights due diligence
We will, in accordance with
the United Nation’s Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, build a framework for conducting human
rights due diligence so as to identify, and prevent or mitigate, any adverse impacts on human rights.
- 4. Remedy
Should it become clear that we have caused, or
we were involved in, any adverse impacts on human rights, we will take appropriate steps to provide remedy
for such impacts.
- 5. Education
We will provide appropriate education and
training to ensure that this Policy becomes embedded in all of our business activities and is implemented
effectively.
- 6. Dialogue and consultation
In the course of
implementing this Policy, we will engage in dialogues and consultations with our stakeholders and external
experts.
- 7. Disclosure of information
We will disclose the
progress we make and the outcome we achieve in relation to our human rights initiatives through the House
Foods Group’s website and other means.
- 8. Significant human rights issues
The Annex to this
Policy sets out the human rights issues that we have designated as significant and will be tackling in
accordance with this Policy. These significant issues will be revised as and when appropriate.
- Established in September 2013
- Revised in April 2020
- Revised in April 2021
- Revised in April 2023
Annex
- We will eliminate inhumane treatment, including abuse and various forms of harassment.
- We will not discriminate anyone on any grounds whatsoever, be that birthplace,
nationality, race, ethnicity, belief, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, social status, ideology,
hobby, academic record, disability, or anything else.
- We will not unreasonably refuse to employ anyone, or terminate anyone’s employment, on
grounds that have no direct bearing on the person’s ability to perform his or her duties.
- We will comply with the applicable laws and regulations of the countries and regions in
which we operate, as well as the relevant international rules. We will also properly understand and respect,
and pay due regard to, the culture, tradition, custom, and history of the countries and regions in which we
operate.
- We will never employ child labor or forced labor.
- We will ensure the soundness of our workers’ employment and their working conditions in
accordance with the applicable laws and regulations.
- We will build and maintain a good relationship with our employees by respecting their
basic right to collective bargaining as a means of facilitating discussions on working conditions, pay
levels, and other matters.
- We will comply with the laws and regulations, as well as our own rules and policies, on
health and safety. We will build and maintain a working environment that is safe, healthy, and comfortable
to work in.