Hitachi Rail’s principles focus on business ethics and the promotion of the values of loyalty, fairness and respect, both towards its internal and external stakeholders.
They support the UN Global Compact Network initiative and use it to create and develop an economic, social and environmental framework which promotes a healthy and sustainable world economy for all - they are also one of the co-founders of the Global Compact Network Italy, established in 2010.
The company's commitments and actions are guided by their mission, vision and values, harmony, sincerity and pioneering spirit, which are shared with Corporate Hitachi Ltd.
The company’s governance is set to understand the needs and expectations of its people and to involve them in projects to develop skills and competences. It is focused on the constant monitoring of the satisfaction of its customers and partners and plays an active role in the management of relations with local communities and different stakeholders groups.
Hitachi Rail has embarked on an SA8000 certification journey as it believes that the ethical certification correctly and transparently addresses and governs the social impact of its organisation and highlights to all stakeholders how they apply labour and human rights legislation and actions to manage risk along the supply chain.
Hitachi Rail Approach
What does SA 8000 mean?
SA 8000 is a globally recognised reference standard, created with the aim of ensuring optimal working conditions. The SA 8000 standard, published by SAI in 1997, touches on the sphere of social responsibility as regards the conditions of workers (human rights, development, and enhancement, training and professional growth of people, health and safety of workers, non-discrimination, child and youth work) and its requirements extend to the entire supply chain and sub-contractors.
Why the SA8000?
Hitachi Rail has embarked on the SA8000 certification journey with the aim of improving working conditions for all its employees worldwide. The SA8000 certification guarantees stakeholders (competitors, public bodies, customers, suppliers, institutions, associations) to be a company that has respect for human and workers' rights and an ethical management as its way of doing business.
The governance of the SA8000
The body responsible for managing SA8000 issues is the Social Performance Team (SPT).
The SPT, is a "mixed" working group, consisting of workers' representatives, union representatives and management representatives; who have specific roles and responsibilities to be adopted in any working circumstance and relationship with stakeholders of various kinds and in line with the SA8000 standard. The constitution of this team ensures numerical balance between managers and workers as local staff representatives for the different sites.
Child labour
THE STANDARD
It is not possible to use, or encourage the use, of child labour; procedures must be established for the recovery of children who may have been employed, in particular by providing help for them to attend school; procedures must be established which can in any case promote school attendance; risk situations must be avoided.
THE COMMITMENT OF THE ORGANISATION
Do not resort to or support the use of child labour, in line with current legislation, the relevant ILO Conventions and the International Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Forced Labour
THE STANDARD
It is not possible to use, or encourage the use of forced labour; in particular, and shall not require personnel to pay ‘deposits’ to the organisation upon commencing employment.
THE COMMITMENT OF THE ORGANISATION
Do not resort to or support the use of forced labour, condemning any form of modern slavery and prohibiting the use of work carried out not voluntarily also because of threats or debts.
Health & Safety
THE STANDARD
It is necessary to ensure that the workplace is healthy and safe; a representative of the Directorate for Safety and Prevention must be appointed; adequate training must be provided to all staff; potential health risks must be identified and addressed
THE COMMITMENT OF THE ORGANISATION
Guarantee a healthy and safe workplace, adopting all the appropriate measures to protect the well-being of workers and prevent accidents and damage to the health of these workers during their commitment to the company.
Freedom of Association and right to collective bargain
THE STANDARD
Workers have the right to join and form unions of their choice; have the right to collective bargaining; workers' representatives may not be discriminated against in the workplace and must be able to communicate with members; if the membership rights are limited by law, they must be facilitated through the use of alternative means.
THE COMMITMENT OF THE ORGANISATION
Respect and protect the freedom of workers to join, not hindering their membership in trade unions and promote collective bargaining.
Discrimination
THE STANDARD
Discrimination may not be implemented in relation to: race, social class, national origin, caste, birth, religion, invalidity, sex, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, marital status, trade union membership, political opinions, age or any other condition that could lead to discrimination; behaviour, including gestures, language and physical contact, that is threatening, offensive, exploitative or sexually coercive, is not permitted.
THE COMMITMENT OF THE ORGANISATION
Prohibit all forms of discrimination, based on age, ethnic origin, nationality, political and trade union opinions, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical and mental disabilities and any other personal characteristics not related to the professional sphere.
Disciplinary procedures
THE STANDARD
Corporal punishment, mental or physical coercion, verbal abuse of personnel may not be used or tolerated.
THE COMMITMENT OF THE ORGANISATION
Prohibit the use of any form of physical, corporal and mental coercion, including verbal offenses or any further offense against the dignity of persons.
Working Hours
THE STANDARD
Working hours must be adequate to the provisions of the laws in force and the standard of the working sector; in the case of national legislation less restrictive than the SA8000 requirement, ordinary work must not exceed 40 hours per week with one day off; overtime must not exceed 12 hours per week, it must be voluntary and paid to a higher extent; in the event that collective bargaining is entered into, the request for overtime must be made in accordance with the agreements.
THE COMMITMENT OF THE ORGANISATION
Comply with current laws on working hours, rest and holidays, ensuring a decent and sufficient wage.
Pay
THE STANDARD
The minimum legal wages must be guaranteed; the wage must meet basic needs and an additional quota must be available for overtime; the pay check must be clearly and regularly detailed; the remuneration must be delivered in accordance with the legal requirements and in the most convenient way for the worker; it must not be abused in the stipulation of collaboration contracts that do not allow regular worker's contributions; false apprenticeship or similar schemes should not be taken advantage of in order to avoid meeting obligations to personnel under applicable laws and regulations pertaining to labour and social security.
THE COMMITMENT OF THE ORGANISATION
We guarantee employees’ salaries corresponding to the Contratto Collettivo Nazionale di Lavoro (CCNL) of the sector. We regularly deliver the pay check with the description of the items that make up the salary. We provide advice on obtaining family allowances. We guarantee the correct management of all contractual forms used (fixed term, apprenticeship etc.).
Hitachi Rail STS SpA's journey towards SA8000 certification started in Italy. The decision to start from the offices of Naples, Genoa, Tito Scalo, Turin, Reggio Calabria and Pistoia stems from the need to involve a diverse workforce across roles.
In addition, following the initial drafting by Hitachi Rail STS SpA of the policies and reference manuals for the SA8000, all other Legal Entities of the Hitachi Rail group will be required to be compliant with the standard even if not directly certified. The export of best practices to each site is essential for the continuous development of a safe working environment for all employees.
With the aim of maintaining high ethical standards and working in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, while promoting a safe environment to report potential or suspected violations, Hitachi Rail STS SpA has organised and made available dedicated channels through which anyone can report any suspected violations of the Group Code of Ethics or any violation of laws and regulations in terms of corporate social responsibility.
The dedicated channel is available through the Supervisory Body OdV@hitachirail.com.
OdV will have the task of addressing to the Social Performance Team all reports relating to SA8000 issues ensuring, where necessary, the due anonymity.
The SPT will have the task of collecting the reports received by the SB on SA8000 and corporate social responsibility, to take charge of them, evaluate and implement the improvement actions and the updating of the analysis of the inherent risks.
The SPEAK UP channel is available:
Online via this link
By phone (available 24/7), via the toll-free number 800 168056.
Here are the additional external channels available to employees:
RINA: sa8000@rina.org
SAI Social Accountability International sa8000@sa-intl.org