Risk Management
Business Continuity Management (BCM/BCP)
Policies and Basic Approach
Mitsui & Co. regards business continuity in times of disaster as a vital management priority. We have formulated a Business Continuity Management (BCM) framework to minimize business risks, such as the loss of customers and damage to our corporate reputation, resulting from the suspension of important business processes in the event that our ability to maintain our business operations is seriously impeded by earthquakes, floods, terrorism, epidemics, power shortages, or other contingencies, or when such a situation is expected to continue for a significant period of time.
Following the compilation of business continuity guidelines for business corporations by the Japanese government (specifically, by the Central Disaster Management Council of the Cabinet Office), we formulated a BCM Policy in 2006. Under the BCM framework, we formulated the Business Continuity Plan (BCP) which defines policies, procedures, organizational structures, and other related matters to ensure business continuity or the early resumption of business activities in the event of disaster, respectively for the Tokyo Head Office, other offices in Japan, overseas regional business units and regional blocs, and we regularly review it to ensure that we can maintain an appropriate management structure.
Business Continuity Management Policy
- Safety of Human Life:
Mitsui & Co. regards the safeguarding of human life as its first priority in relation to business continuity management in the event of disasters. - Implementation of Business Continuity Management:
Mitsui & Co. recognizes the importance of business continuity management in times of disaster and will maintain a business continuity plan and structures to ensure the appropriate implementation and administration of that plan. We will work to enhance the effectiveness of the business continuity plan by improving the business continuity awareness and capabilities of individual employees, and by engaging in interactive dialogue with stakeholders. - Continuous Improvement:
Mitsui & Co. will formulate, implement, and administer a business continuity plan for business continuity management and will regularly review and continuously improve this plan. - Coexistence with and Contribution to Society:
When formulating and reviewing its business continuity plan, Mitsui & Co. will consider not only its economic role, but also its coexistence with society and community reconstruction. We will be aware of and respond appropriately to the roles that we may be called upon to perform from time to time, such as the prevention of secondary disasters, community contribution, and coexistence with communities.
Formulated April 2006
Revised October 2020
President and Representative Director
Kenichi Hori
Sustainability Governance and Oversight
In non-emergency situations, the BCM general representative (the General Manager of the Human Resources & General Affairs Division) is responsible for supervision of the overall BCM. The BCM general representative manages the BCP, which includes the provision of education for all employees and training for staff members in charge of emergency response with support from the secretariat of the Emergency Response Headquarters, the establishment and revisions of related rules and documents, and preparation for and response to emergency situations. In case of an emergency, such as a disaster, the Emergency Response Headquarters will be set up, with the BCM officer (the Managing Director who supervises the Human Resources & General Affairs Div.) serving as its head, who will be responsible for the approval of the BCP and implementation of tasks stipulated in the Rules on Emergency Business Continuity Management.
Emergency Response Headquarters
| BCM officer | Yoshiaki Takemasu (Representative Director, Senior Executive Managing Officer (Taking charge of Business Continuity Plan Management, Human Resources & General Affairs Division) |
|---|---|
| BCM general representative | Yoshiki Hirabayashi (Executive Managing Officer, General Manager of Human Resources & General Affairs Division) |
| Department in Charge | Security Management Dept. of Human Resources & General Affairs Div. |
Initiatives
BCP Revision, and BCP-Related Training
The BCM general representative is responsible for supervision of the planning, management, and administration of the BCP, the formulation, promotion, and implementation of the BCP, the approval of education and training for employees in relation to business continuity, and the compilation of disaster response manuals. These manuals have been created based on the company-wide BCP and set forth actions to be taken by the Emergency Response Headquarters for performing important corporate processes in the event of a disaster, as well as manuals stipulating actions to be taken by individual offices after the occurrence of a disaster. In addition, we regularly conduct business continuity drills involving the immediate start up and operation of the Emergency Response Headquarters based on scenarios in which a major disaster occurs, such as an earthquake directly beneath the Tokyo area.
Mitsui & Co. will continually improve our organizational response capabilities by revising the manuals to reflect any issues identified through these drills. We have also introduced a system to confirm the whereabouts and safety of business and administrative staff, contract employees, and temporary staff in Japan. In September 2021 and February 2022, we conducted a general drill, and provided information on the results of responses in this drill to all employees, facilitating the use of this system.
In addition, each office maintains stocks of emergency food and equipment. Under the provisions of the Tokyo Metropolitan Ordinance on Measures for Stranded Persons, we maintain a three-day supply of emergency food and equipment for Tokyo Head Office employees and employees of affiliated companies based in the Head Office. Emergency kits containing food and other supplies are also available for all the employees at the Tokyo Head Office and can be taken by employees who have an urgent need to return to their homes.
Response to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
In response to the global spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Mitsui & Co. established the Emergency Management Headquarters in January 2020 to ensure the safety of Mitsui employees working around the world and their family members, and to maintain business continuity. Mitsui & Co. has taken timely and appropriate actions in accordance with directives from national and local governments. We have also implemented measures based on our business continuity plan (BCP) from the perspective of responding to the needs of our business partners and customers, and from the viewpoint of global management. At our operations located in areas where infection is spreading, we have implemented teleworking to prevent infection among our employees. In addition, we are continuing to take measures according to the situation in each country and region, such as evacuating employees and their families who are stationed in countries and regions where medical facilities are considered to be insufficient.
As of August 2022, we are continuing to promote the utilization of our remote working system, which we introduced in January 2022, and also encourage employees to use the staggered work hours system to avoid commuting during congested times. In order to ensure safety and reassurance for our employees, each office has taken respective countermeasures such as installing hand sanitizer dispensers and thermography systems at building entrances, regular sanitization of the offices, and avoid the "3Cs" (Closed spaces, Crowded places, Close-contact settings).
COVID-19 Workplace Vaccination Program
Mitsui & Co. conducted its own workplace vaccination program from June to August 2021 and February to March 2022. Vaccination priority was given to employees with underlying medical conditions and those scheduled for overseas assignments or business trips, followed by general employees. In addition to employees working at the Head Office, including temporary staff, temporary workers on secondment, employees of companies located within the Head Office, affiliate companies, and subcontractors, resulting in approximately 7,100 people vaccinated through this program.
Social Contribution Activities
COVID-19 Support Initiatives
Our response to the novel coronavirus remains an important issue, and we intend to promote support initiatives while respecting the judgment of each operational site in Japan and overseas, based on the respective business environments, regional characteristics and needs.
To date, we have provided the following COVID-19 support initiatives in collaboration with our subsidiaries and affiliates.
- Japan: Mitsui employee volunteers carried out an initiative to provide face shields to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's Bureau of Social Welfare and Public Health. Nine other support activities were carried out via internal crowd-finding. We have also supported 173 caregiving facilities through "Kono Iro", an e-commerce site for boxed lunches and meal deliveries aimed at supporting the food needs of caregiving organizations.
- United States: We donated to 12 food banks and other organizations in regions where Mitsui USA branches are located.
- Taiwan: We provided support mainly to medical professionals and non-profit organizations. Mitsui Taiwan donated beverages, foodstuffs, consumables, and other items handled by Mitsui Taiwan to the Taipei City Hospital Heping Branch, the Taipei City Hospital Renai Branch, the Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, Show Chwan Memorial Hospital, and the Taiwan People's Food Bank Association.
Social Contribution Activities: Novel Corona Virus (COVID-19) Response
