Past Human Rights Initiatives
(1) FY2018 Human Rights Risk Assessment and Human Rights Impact Assessment
1) Human Rights Risk Assessment
Using the Verisk Maplecroft Human Rights Risk Database, we identified and analyzed human rights topics with the advice of an external expert, Caux Round Table Japan (CRT Japan). We identified Thailand (seafood processing and poultry industries) and Brazil (coffee beans and sugarcane molasses) as high-risk countries/regional industries in connection with the Ajinomoto Group's food businesses.
The high-risk matters we identified included occupational health and safety, child labor, and forced labor.
Report of the FY2018 Human Rights Risks Assessment (CRT Japan)
2) Human Rights Impact Assessment (Direct Dialogue with Rights-holders)
- Human Rights Impact Assessment in Thailand (2019)
With a particular attention to the seafood processing and poultry industries, we visited manufacturing plants and aquaculture farms involved in the Ajinomoto Group’s value chain. We also engaged in dialogues and interviews with international NGOs and National Human Rights Commission of Thailand, as well as industry associations in the seafood and poultry industries and migrant workers.
〈Result summary〉
It is clear that the legal system in Thailand is well developed and an effective remedy mechanism is functioning in the poultry industry. We intend to extend these good practices to other businesses and regions where the Ajinomoto Group operates.
- Human Rights Impact Assessment in Brazil (2021-2022)
With a particular attention to the sugarcane molasses and coffee bean industries, we conducted dialogues and interviews with manufacturing plants and farmers involved in the Ajinomoto Group’s value chain, international NGOs, national human rights institutions, and industry associations. (Conducted online due to COVID-19)
〈Result summary〉
It is clear that the regions where the Ajinomoto Group conducts procurement are highly mechanized and the risk of human rights violations is not high. At the same time, it has been suggested that, although the legal system in Brazil is well-developed, specific remedy mechanisms are inadequate. We will continue to explore the establishment of a remedy mechanism in this region.
(2) 2022 human rights risk assessments
The Ajinomoto Group conducts country-specific human rights risk assessments every four years. The 2022 risk assessment analyzed and identified human rights issues in the countries in which the Ajinomoto Group operates food businesses. We collaborated with external human rights experts (CRT Japan) to analyze analysis risks based on raw material purchases and sales using human rights risk data from Verisk Maplecroft. Furthermore, based on the perspectives of NGOs and NPOs on human rights and the environment, we identified high-risk countries, regions, and industries across our own value chain from the standpoint of global human rights.
Results indicated that high-risk countries and regions include Southeast Asia and Brazil, while high-risk issues*1 identified include occupational health and safety, child labor, modern slavery (forced labor), and discrimination. We also identified the risks depicted in the following table based on evaluations of priority raw materials*2 sourced by the Ajinomoto Group.
※1 Risks assessed: Child labor, fair wages, reasonable working hours, discrimination, freedom of association, modern slavery, occupational health and safety, land grabbing
※2 We prioritized the following five raw materials in our human rights risk assessments. (See Sustainability Report 2023, p. 79, for a list of priority raw materials)
| Raw Materials Assessed | Coffee Bean | Sugarcane Molasses | Soybeans | Shrimp | Palm Oil |
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| High Risk Issues |
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(3) Roadmap to 2030 (Formulated in 2022)
(4) 2023 Human Rights Impact Assessment
- Human Rights Impact Assessment in Indonesia (Supply Chain of Sugarcane Molasses) （February 2023）
External human rights experts and Ajinomoto Group sustainability and procurement staff visited local work sites and engaged in direct dialogue with manufacturing plant operators, traders, sugar mills, and farmers involved in the Ajinomoto Group sugarcane molasses supply chain.
- Prior explanation to management of Ajinomoto Co., Inc. and the local subsidiary in Indonesia (November and December 2022)
- Human rights impact assessment of the supply chain of sugarcane molasses, Indonesia (February 27th and 28th, 2023)
- Visit to the Surabaya region, Indonesia by third-party CRT Japan and Ajinomoto Group sustainability and procurement representatives as part of efforts to enhance traceability in the region
- Visits to the Ajinomoto Group manufacturing factory, trader, sugar mill, and farmers along the Ajinomoto Group’s sugarcane molasses supply chain to conduct direct dialogues
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Report of result from CRT Japan (March 10th, 2023)
- Draft report on human rights impact assessment of the supply chain of sugarcane molasses in Indonesia prepared by CRT Japan
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Information sharing within the Ajinomoto Group (April 2023)
- Feedback of the assessment results to the local subsidiary in Indonesia
- Initiated consideration of specific future action plans
Although we did not find any serious human rights issues, we will continue to monitor the situation related to proper work hour management, remedy mechanisms, forced labor, occupational health and safety, and other issues.
- Human Rights Impact Assessment in Vietnam (Supply Chain of coffee bean) (April 2023)
We went into the local coffee bean industry supply chain and conducted dialogues and interviews with farmers, exporter and local coffee company.
〈Summary of results〉
No serious human rights issues, such as forced labor or child labor, were found within the scope of this time.
On the other hand, some points to be improved were found, including the method of contracting short-term workers during the coffee bean harvest season and the occupational health and safety management method of exporter. (Response under consideration)
〈Follow-up〉
Based on the above evaluation, we traveled to the site in June 2023 to engage in dialogue with stakeholders in the supply chain regarding human rights issues. We will continue to engage in ongoing dialogue and work on mitigating human rights risks through building trustworthy and good partnerships.
〈Follow-up〉
Based on the above evaluation, we traveled to the site in September 2024 to conduct human rights lectures for the farmers. Additionally, we revisited our trading partner, the exporter, to engage in dialogue regarding human rights issues. We will continue to engage in ongoing dialogue and work on mitigating human rights risks through building trustworthy and good partnerships.