Background

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In the 2023 revision of the "OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct," the implementation of "meaningful stakeholder engagement" was incorporated into its general principles. As part of due diligence, companies are expected to engage meaningfully with relevant stakeholders or their legitimate representatives regarding activities that may have adverse impacts on these stakeholders in areas covered by the guidelines. While there is a movement in Europe towards mandatory human rights due diligence, regardless of legal requirements, the foundation of human rights due diligence and remediation lies in stakeholder engagement according to the "UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights." The ILO’s "Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy" also highlights the essential role of meaningful consultation with relevant stakeholders including workers’ organization.

 

According to the JETRO survey on the actual conditions of Japanese companies expanding overseas in 2023, more than 80% of responding Japanese companies expanding overseas recognize human rights issues in their supply chains as important management issues. This marks a 20-point increase from the previous year, indicating the growing importance of human rights issues. However, less than 30% of companies surveyed reported that they were already implementing human rights due diligence. Looking at it regionally, companies in Southwestern Asia and ASEAN countries remain in the 20% range. Reasons for not implementing due diligence include a lack of understanding of how to do so. Given that many Japanese companies have supply chains in Asia, there is a high demand for effective due diligence implementation.

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Objectives

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This workshop aims to provide Japanese companies operating in Asia with opportunities for dialogue with rightsholders and their defenders to promote responsible business conduct and respect for human rights. Dialogue with relevant stakeholders that are or could be affected by business-associated adverse impacts in the region is essential for human rights due diligence and remediation, as it provides an opportunity to consider and incorporate the perspectives of these stakeholders in identifying, preventing, and mitigating the adverse impacts of corporate activities and addressing human rights risks. By engaging with important stakeholders such as rightsholders, labour unions, human rights activists, and civil society organizations, companies can share information about the actual and potential impacts of their activities on local communities, human rights including labour rights, and plan and implement more effective human rights due diligence to prevent and mitigate adverse impacts as well as facilitate effective access to remedy for the affected rightsholders. Following a panel discussion involving experts from international organizations, the workshop will facilitate practical engagement between companies and stakeholders under the guidance of expert facilitators.

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