Governance
Based on our Group’s corporate philosophy, the Sysmex Way, and our Shared Values, we define compliance as “the conduct of open and aboveboard business activities based on the observance of laws and regulations and high ethical standards”. In accordance with this definition, we have established a Global Compliance Code, in which conformance rules and behavioral guidelines for all Group executives and employees are detailed. This code, written in Japanese, was translated into many languages so all Group executives and employees would be able to understand and adhere to it.
Sysmex considers compliance violations to be the most serious type of risk that could damage the trust that society places in us. Under the Group-wide risk management structure, we have established a Compliance Committee as an umbrella organization to promote and enhance compliance.
The chairperson of the Compliance Committee works to ensure compliance throughout the Group as the Chief Compliance Officer. Under the Group-wide policy, each Group company has appointed its own compliance officer to uphold compliance. The Compliance Committee monitors Group-wide compliance promotion activities and their progress. We also conduct an annual internal audit of compliance based on risk assessment results. In fiscal 2023, we audited our compliance with the Subcontract Act, the Labor Standards Act, and other laws and regulations. Furthermore, our compliance promotion structure is annually assessed by a third party as part of our internal controls.
In the event of a major or potential compliance violation that would significantly affect the Group or a Group company, the compliance officer of the relevant company will immediately notify the Chief Compliance Officer. After receiving this report, the Chief Compliance Officer will proceed to report on the event to the Internal Control Committee, chaired by the President, and members of the Managing Board and Audit & Supervisory Committee. We will also disclose information on events that require it in accordance with information disclosure regulations.
There were 15 ethics incidents in FY2023, but no serious violations.
Sysmex has built a global system whereby all the employees of the Group can consult or report on compliance issues, including bribery and human rights abuses. Specifically, we place whistleblowing desks operated by respective regional headquarters to provide consultation to and receive reports from Group employees in each region. We have also established a Group Compliance Hotline (GCH), where all Group employees can directly consult with or report to the Sysmex Corporation. In the Japan region, consultations and reporting on compliance issues related to the management team can be handled by the Audit and Supervisory Committee members who serve as a whistleblowing desk.
Employees seeking consultation or making reports can remain anonymous through any of these whistleblowing routes. Information received through these routes is handled confidentially, and employees seeking consultation or making reports are protected from any negative consequences caused by doing so.
We promote the early detection of compliance violations by disseminating information about such systems to all the Group employees via the intranet and through training. In addition, the Compliance Committee monitors the operational status of the whistleblowing system. In fiscal 2023, there were 26 internal reports received from Japan and elsewhere. We conducted investigations regarding these reports and dealt with each of them appropriately.
Sysmex views employee education and awareness activities as the foundation of promoting and ensuring compliance, and regularly offers training. During new employee and rank-based training, we take the opportunity to foster an understanding of the Global Compliance Code.
In fiscal 2023, we conducted multilingual global compliance training for all Group employees in accordance with the compliance education policy shared within the Group. This ensures that employees thoroughly understand and consider the importance of compliance, the Global Compliance Code, appropriate responses when a compliance violation is discovered, and other necessary matters.