Sustainability
Compliance
We employ thorough measures to ensure compliance with laws and corporate ethics and always act with the highest ethical standards to achieve sustained corporate growth.
Basic policies on compliance
The Fuji Electric Code of Conduct states that Fuji Electric must “make global compliance a top priority.” In addition, we have defined the Fuji Electric Compliance Regulations, a guideline for compliance, under the supervision of the Board of Directors. We also globally promote compliance through the Fuji Electric Compliance Program and the Fuji
Compliance Promotion System
The Fuji Electric Compliance Promotion Committee is headed by our President and COO as its Chairman, and it consists of control chiefs (managers of businesses and corporate department heads) responsible for regulating laws and acts, with Standing Audit & Supervisory Board Members and outside experts (attorneys) as observers. The Committee meets twice per year to deliberate on the implementation status of the Fuji Electric Compliance Program and the Fuji Electric Business Ethics Whistle-Blowing Systems as well as the plan for implementing the Fuji Electric Compliance Program and then reports to the Board of Directors once per year. In the event of a compliance infraction, there is a system in place to take any necessary measures such as fact-finding investigations, corrective actions, recurrence prevention measures, internal punishments, and internal and external disclosure.
Status of Compliance Promotion
Fuji Electric Compliance Program
Fuji Electric has established the Fuji Electric Compliance Program to cover four aspects related to compliance with Japanese and overseas laws by both the Company and its Group companies in Japan and overseas. Through reviews and revisions made by the Fuji Electric Compliance Promotion Committee, we conduct activities while also actively acquiring external certifications and disclosing information externally in order to verify the effectiveness of our activities from an external perspective.
We promote wide-ranging and systematic compliance education and awareness through level-specific and jobspecific group training, online training, e-learning programs and web-delivered training, as well as by displaying posters internally and distributing pamphlets.
Fuji Electric Business Ethics Whistle-Blowing Systems
To promote self-cleaning by preventing infractions of laws and regulations and ensuring early detection, we have introduced and are operating the Fuji Electric Business Ethics Whistle-Blowing Systems. Under these systems, internal and external parties can report real or suspected violations of laws, regulations, or internal rules including matters related to bribery and corruption to Fuji Electric’s President and COO via reporting points (in-house contact points and outside lawyers). (Anonymous reporting is also possible.)
In fiscal 2023, our Whistle-Blowing Systems received 43 reports both in Japan and overseas, and these reports included 7 violations (2 harassment claims, 3 labor-related claims, 1 accounting-related claim, and 1 other claim). In all cases, necessary measures, including corrective actions and measures to prevent recurrence, have been taken.
To respond to reports, we begin by taking thorough steps to protect the whistleblower by keeping his or her information confidential and prohibiting disadvantageous treatment, retaliation, or discrimination on the basis of his or her report. We then investigate the facts, take corrective measures, prevent recurrence, impose disciplinary measures, and take other necessary actions to resolve the issue and provide feedback detailing our response to the whistleblower. (Even in cases of anonymous reporting, we strive to provide indirect feedback through the measures described above.)
The Business Ethics Helpline handles reporting from Fuji Electric Group executives and employees in Japan and overseas (including retirees and dispatch employees). We strive to ensure awareness of the Helpline through posts in the company magazine and intranet.
The Partner Hotline handles reporting from outside stakeholders such as business partners. We strive to build full awareness of the system through posts on our public website and at explanatory forums for business partners.
Results of Compliance Promotion
Thanks to the Fuji Electric Compliance Program and the Fuji Electric Business Ethics Whistle-Blowing Systems, in fiscal 2023, there were no compliance infractions with the potential to seriously impact management.
Within our Corporate Code of Conduct, which states that Fuji Electric will "Make global compliance a top priority" we declare that we will “prevent bribery and corruption.” We also present the Fuji Electric Anti-Bribery Policy as part of this Code of Conduct. With these steps, we vow that no Fuji Electric employee (including dispatch employees) will engage in bribery in any form or in conduct that could lead to suspicion of bribery. We also declare that we will work to prevent bribery throughout our supply chain. This includes asking suppliers, business partners, and other stakeholders to endeavor to prevent bribery.
In addition, we have established Fuji Electric Anti-Bribery Guidelines as rules to be followed by Fuji Electric employees (including dispatch employees) in their daily operations to prevent bribery. We are working to prevent bribery through the implementation of the Fuji Electric Compliance Program.
We take strict disciplinary action against and employees who are involved in corruption in accordance with our work rules.
We had no anti-bribery violations during FY2023. No Fuji Electric officers or employees were disciplined for anti-bribery violations, and no fines, penalties, or settlements were incurred in connection with such violations.
We do not contribute to political activities aside from contributions to political parties and political fundraising organizations. Furthermore, when supporting the activities of political organizations, we ensure that such support is provided in accordance with appropriate internal procedures and in compliance with relevant laws and regulations, such as the Political Funds Control Act and the Public Offices Election Act.
Political contributions in fiscal 2023 totaled 11.86 million yen.
We have established rules to be followed in everyday operations in our Antimonopoly Act Compliance Manual, Foreign Competition Law Compliance Manual, and other regulations and make revisions to those rules as necessary. We also perform daily monitoring by confirming quotations and estimates via a bidding information management system and extensive record-keeping. In addition, we strive to prevent violations of competition laws through guideline-based audits by our internal auditing divisions and comprehensive level-specific and job-specific training.
We take strict disciplinary action against employees who are involved in competition law violations in accordance with our work rules.
We had no competition law violations during FY2023. No Fuji Electric officers or employees were disciplined for competition law violations, and no fines, penalties, or settlements were incurred in connection with such violations.