The Brother Group Principles of Social Responsibility

"The Brother Group Global Charter," originally published in 1999, provides the foundation for all Brother Group activities in the global marketplace. All Group companies - and all our employees - must base their decisions and actions on the Charter's "Basic Policies" and "Codes of Practice."

For details, please see the site for "Corporate Information - The Brother Group Global Charter."

The Brother Group Global Charter (Global Charter) was established in 1999 and lays the foundation for the Brother Group's global activities. All Brother companies and employees must base their decisions and actions on the guidelines set out in Global Charter. In order to meet the requirements of Global Charter, particularly with regard to responsibilities towards stakeholders including customers, the Brother Group has implemented an active management program with an emphasis on sustainability.

As the role of corporations has become more significant in achieving a sustainable society, the demands and expectations of stakeholders towards the Brother Group have increased.

In response, The Brother Group has adopted "Principles of Social Responsibility" (the "Principles") to publically express how we fulfill our social and ethical duties.

Rigorous implementation of the Principles will ensure that the Brother Group meets its social responsibilities in the countries and regions where we operate and will enhance management with an emphasis on sustainability.
We aim to make the Brother Group an even more globally recognized and unified corporate brand which is truly trusted by our customers and stakeholders. Moreover, we hope that the Brother Group will enjoy a long and successful future in a sustainable and ethical society.

A. Fair working conditions

The Brother Group will comply with all laws and regulations applicable to providing a safe and healthy workplace for our Associates.
The Brother Group protects the health and safety of Associates in the workplace by:

1. evaluating and controlling potential safety hazards including physically demanding work, electrical and other energy sources, fire, vehicles, and exposure to chemicals and other biological and physical agents;
2. providing properly designed and well maintained workplaces and appropriate protective equipment;
3. implementing safe work procedures and systems and providing ongoing training and systems designed to prevent, manage, track and report occupational injury and illness; and
4. implementing strategies and response procedures for emergency situations and events including evacuation procedures, drills and recovery plans.

Related Documents

• Safety, Health and Disaster Prevention

The Brother Group helps society achieve sustainable development by positively and continuously considering the environmental impact in all aspects of our business operations.

Related Documents

• Brother Group's Environmental Policy

The Brother Group will act with the highest integrity and ethics in all aspects of our activities.

1. Fair dealing
   The Brother Group will comply with the anti-trust and competition laws of the countries and regions which apply to our operation and will not engage in any acts which will restrict or distort free and fair competition. In purchasing goods and services, the Brother Group will select suppliers impartially and upon fair conditions.
2. Proper advertising
   The Brother Group will uphold and comply with applicable standards of advertising and the Brother Group will refrain from knowingly using any misleading or inaccurate advertising.
3. Improper advantage
   The Brother Group will not engage in any form of corruption, extortion or embezzlement. Bribes or other means of obtaining undue or improper advantage are not to be offered or accepted.
4. Reporting and recording accurate corporate information
   The Brother Group will record and report all necessary information including accounting records promptly and accurately, and retain them properly.
   The Brother Group will make accurate and timely disclosure of financial status and information on business operations to shareholders, investors and applicable capital markets to facilitate informed investment decisions in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
   Moreover, the Brother Group will require Associates to ensure that statements of a personal nature appearing in newspapers or magazines, and on radio, television, video or via the internet will not give the appearance of speaking or acting on the Brother Group's behalf.
5. Information management
   The Brother Group has rigorous information management systems and ensures that Associates will not unlawfully disclose confidential information relating to the Brother Group companies, other organizations or our customers to third parties without consent.
6. Protection of personal information
   The Brother Group respects the privacy of our customers, business contacts and Associates and has developed safeguards designed to limit access to their personal information in accordance with local privacy laws. The Brother Group safeguards private information, including personal data, lists of our customers and employees and does not authorize our Associates to share private information, unless it is done in accordance with local data protection laws and our applicable privacy policies or otherwise with permission, as appropriate.
7. Policy against insider trading
   Associates will not become involved in illegal insider trading. Illegal insider trading is generally to trade securities while in possession of material, non-public information about the security.
8. Protection of intellectual property rights
   The Brother Group will endeavor to secure, maintain and expand the Brother Group's intellectual property rights (including but not limited to patent rights, trademark rights and copyrights). The Brother Group will respect the intellectual property rights of others.

Related Documents

• Promoting CSR Procurement
• Policy on the Responsible Procurement of Minerals
• Brother Group Competition Law Global Policy
• Brother Group Anti-Corruption Global Policy
• Corporate Governance Report
• Disclosure Policy
• Integrated Report PDF Download
• The Brother Group Information Management System
• General Privacy Policy of Brother Industries, Ltd.

The Brother Group will establish a management system to implement these Principles as follows:

1. each Brother Group company will implement its own code of conduct which, together with other company rules, satisfies the standard set by these Principles and require its Associates to comply with such code;
2. each Brother Group company will, according to its organization, clarify the department responsible for implementation of its code of conduct;
3. each Brother Group company will give regular training to its employees with respect to compliance with its code of conduct;
4. each Brother Group company will perform periodic auditing to ensure conformity with these Principles; and,
5. each Brother Group company will correct in a timely fashion any deficiencies identified by periodic audits.

The senior management in charge of the legal section at Brother Industries, Ltd will be responsible for ensuring implementation of these Principles by each company of the Brother Group and the management systems as well as reviewing the status of the management system on a regular basis.