Aisin Seiki provides human rights education in training programs for new hires, including mid-career hires, as well as employees that have been promoted. The training emphasizes the fact that respect for the diversity of all people leads to respect for human rights, and covers a wide spectrum of issues as they relate to the human rights of minorities, women, and the physically challenged. A total of 733 employees took part in this program in FY2011.

In addition, a new initiative was launched in FY2011 in the form of a lecture on human rights for executive officers. The Company plans to hold this lecture on an annual basis moving forward.

On the basis of an approach rooted in the concepts of normalization and harmonious coexistence, Aisin Seiki aims to create working environments in which people with and without disabilities can work together comfortably.

We hold regular consultation sessions for employees with disabilities and does all it can to respond to their concerns in connection with work and everyday life. We also hold training sessions for managers and supervisors so that advisors and superiors in the workplace are better able to understand the concerns of disabled employees.

The 12 main AISIN Group companies host a liaison conference on the employment of persons with disabilities and have built up an operating structure where each of these companies also supports their own affiliated companies.

The Group also focuses efforts on providing technical training for our employees with disabilities. In FY2011, the results of these activities helped an employee of Aisin Seiki's Machinery & Equipment Plant win a gold medal in the mechanical CAD division at Japan's national Abilympics competition (a vocational skills competition for people with disabilities).

Employment Rate of Persons with Disabilities

With the structure of Japan's labor force undergoing changes as a result of the country's aging society and declining population due to a falling birthrate, companies now more than ever need to find ways to spur on their corporate activities by both providing work environments for each and every employee to leverage their skills and abilities to the maximum extent possible, as well as ensuring diversity in the work force. To this end, AISIN believes it is critical to support the work-life balance of its employees by developing work environments that enable employees to select a variety of different work formats. As such, to ensure an optimal balance between employees' work activities and private lives.

Aisin Seiki coordinates closely with labor representatives for shortened work hours and an array of other benefits. Past initiatives include the establishment of reduced working hours and childcare leave programs, as well as the opening of an in-house nursery. In June 2010, the Company augmented its programs in conjunction with revisions to Japan's laws on family and medical leave. As a result, the Company has sought to develop workplace environments that balance employees’ jobs with their childcare or nursing care commitments, such as the introduction of new leave for the care of family members in need, the expansion of applicable hours for reduced-hour work programs and increasing the number of days granted for a child's medical care.

Moreover, with the opening in October 2007 of the AI Mommy's Support nursery within the Aisin Seiki headquarters grounds, the Company is able to address the needs of its employees by providing childcare services for a total of 32 infants and children up to the age of five (as of June 30, 2011).

• Details of the in-house nursery can be seen here.