Basic Approach
In addition to the United Nations International Bill of Human Rights—consisting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights—which sets out the fundamental human rights of all people, and the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work of the International Labour Organization (ILO), which sets out people’s fundamental rights at work, including upholding and respecting the core labor standards of the effective abolition of child labor, the elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labor, the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation, freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining, and a safe and healthy working environment, Prima Meat Packers Group upholds and respects various conventions concerning the human rights of workers including wages and working hours, the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and other international codes of conduct relating to human rights.
We also comply with the laws and regulations of each country and region where we conduct business activities.
If it becomes evident that Prima Meat Packers Group’s business activities have caused an adverse impact on human rights, or if it becomes evident, or is suspected, that our business activities are involved in causing an adverse impact on human rights through our business partners and other parties, we will make efforts to remedy such impact through dialogue and appropriate measures in accordance with international codes of conduct.
If there is any inconsistency between internationally recognized human rights and the laws and regulations of any country, we will seek ways to respect internationally recognized human rights principles to the maximum extent possible.
In September 2023, we established the Prima Meat Packers Group Human Rights Policy, and in April 2024, we established the Prima Meat Packers Group Supplier Code of Conduct. Through these measures, Prima Meat Packers Group is promoting initiatives to respect human rights and eliminate discrimination not only within the Group but throughout the entire supply chain.
Main Actions
Dedicated harassment-prevention body
Prima Management Service runs a hotline and helpdesk (the PMS Hotline & Helpdesk) for seeking advice or raising concerns about workplace bullying and harassment. Employees using the service can discuss the matter with a professional counselor via postal mail, fax, telephone, or email. Privacy is maintained, ensuring that the employee is protected from any retribution. Prima Management Service also issues reports to group companies to raise awareness and communicate its services.
Anti-harassment training
We run an annual anti-harassment training program for employees across Prima Meat Packers Group. The program consists of workshops for each group company and workplace. The content of the workshops depends on the participants and the number of workshops held in the past. In each case, the workshop is designed to raise awareness about value diversity and the need for sensitivity. We run the program every year as part of our effort to enhance anti-harassment training.
Assessing Human Rights Risks
In June 2023, we conducted a human rights risk assessment with Caux Round Table Japan and Mizuho Research & Technologies, Ltd. On the day of the assessment, we conducted a desktop survey (a preliminary review of the readily available information) and held a workshop about business and human rights to identify and evaluate major human rights risks across Prima Meat Packers Group. The major risks we identified concerned the working environment in Japan for non-Japanese workers, the working environment for contract workers, and the working conditions in our fresh meat suppliers, and the suppliers’ impacts on local residents’ environment.
The next step is to engage with the stakeholders who are exposed to the risks we identified. Such engagement is necessary to further evaluate these risks, develop the necessary remedial or preventive measures, and provide a mechanism for remedying grievances.
Human Rights Due Diligence Initiatives
From May to June 2025, we conducted a questionnaire survey based on the Dhaka Principles for 547 foreign workers (Specified Skilled Workers and Technical Intern Trainees) working at our four main plants. The Dhaka Principles are an international standard for protecting the rights of migrant workers, and through this survey we worked to gain an objective understanding of the current situation.
In July, external consultants with expertise in human rights conducted face-to-face interviews with 20 workers each at the Ibaraki Plant and the Mie Plant, enabling us to gain a more detailed understanding of actual conditions.
With regard to future human rights due diligence initiatives, we will review our action plan following discussions by the Sustainability Committee and continuously implement the cycle of assessment → action → monitoring → disclosure.
Human Rights Education and Training
To ensure that respect for human rights is incorporated into all business activities and implemented effectively, Prima Meat Packers Group provides human rights awareness education for officers, managers, and employees across the Group.