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The OPTEX Group Code of Conduct was established in 2003 to clarify standards of behavior for all officers and employees and enact an overall system of compliance based on these.
The current Code of Conduct was published six years ago, and in that time the business environment as well as OPTEX itself have changed, including greater emphasis on corporate social responsibility (CSR), workplace risk, and the evolution of OPTEX as a group company. We have therefore significantly revised the original document, which members of the OPTEX Group now adopt as one in recognition of the importance of promoting a spirit of compliance throughout all our companies.
The purpose of a compliance system is to ensure that each officer and employee strictly observes laws, company regulations, and social norms in their daily duties and activities so that all OPTEX Group companies may become trusted, valued members of their communities.
We believe that adopting an attitude of individual responsibility and reflecting the Code of Compliance in all our actions is the most important thing we can do. |
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| October 2009 |
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 Section 4 Ethical conduct |
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Individual actions which conflict with company benefit |
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Political and religious activities |
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Corporate information management |
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Protecting corporate assets |
| 5. |
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Respecting fundamental human rights |
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Section 1 General Provisions |
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| 1. Purpose for enactment |
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A corporation should not exist to pursue profit alone; rather it must also justify the reason for its existence in society and create something valuable for that society through its efforts. Recently there has been series of corporate scandals, which only serve to emphasize the need for proper corporate action based on this philosophy.
It is therefore necessary to clearly define a code of conduct based on social values in order to maintain social order. Each individual must understand this code at a high enough level such that it guides all their actions.
Since its founding, this company has emphasized social value as expressed in our Management Philosophy, which places fulfillment of social responsibility at the core of all management goals.
The purpose of this OPTEX Group Code of Conduct is to enact these principles in daily work activities by enumerating specific rules and goals which must be followed in various work contexts. Using this Code of Conduct as a basis for daily action in a variety of situations will create trust for the OPTEX Group and allow it to become a model corporate citizen. |
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| 2. Scope of application |
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The code of conduct described in this document applies to all officers and employees (including but not limited to full employees, contract employees, part-time workers, advisors, and temp workers) employed by the OPTEX Group*, hereafter referred to as "we" or "officers and employees."
All companies within the OPTEX Group shall adopt this code of conduct as their own and take appropriate measures to ensure that their officers and employees understand it fully.
However, changes or additions may be implemented to the extent that they do not contradict the original code if necessitated by national or regional laws, social customs, or business conditions.
*Refers to OPTEX Co., Ltd. as well as all affiliated subsidiaries.
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| 3.Basic stance |
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Our highest goal is to continuously improve corporate value while earning the trust of all stakeholders, including customers, partners, stockholders and other investors, and local communities. In order to realize this goal, all corporate activities shall be made compliant with relevant laws, this code of conduct, and internal regulations, while a spirit of integrity, honesty, and fairness shall govern the social awareness that guides all actions. |
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Section 2 Offering safe and highly reliable products and services |
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| 1. Research and development |
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We shall create new products and business activities through invention, discovery, and continuous improvement based on a spirit of bold creativity and ceaseless diligence. These shall improve the quality of people's lives through enhancing safety, peace of mind, and comfort. |
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| 2.Sales |
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Our motto is "customer first," and our goal is customer satisfaction and trust through offering services and products that are excel in both safety and quality.
We also strive to contribute to society through engaging in fair and free competition. To realize this goal we never forget gratitude in dealings with our customers, following social ethics and applicable laws while engaging in fair sales activities, always aware that every individual is a representative of the company.
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| 3.Product safety |
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Our highest priority is maximizing product safety and strive towards that goal in all work processes so that our products and services may be worthy of customer trust. We will also anticipate actual customer usage situations, prevent accidents beforehand, design safety into our products, and take all appropriate steps to aid our customers in using our products correctly, from easily understood markings on products to fully informative manuals. |
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Section 3 Integrity and fairness in all activities |
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| 1.Free competition and fair trade |
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(1) |
Fair competition |
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We recognize the importance of free competition in the marketplace, and will not engage in inappropriate restrictive or unfair trading practices which interfere with fair competition. |
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(2) |
Fair sales practices |
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We shall place the highest priority on fair sales practices based on social ethics and applicable laws, even in the most competitive situations. We shall not pursue profit at the expense of abandoning social ethics or breaking laws, including offering bribes, engaging in fixed bidding, participating in cartels to restrict competition, restricting sales prices for customers or partners, or making fictitious business transactions. |
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(3) |
Fair procurement |
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We shall observe healthy business practices and contracts in procuring various goods and services as part of our business activities, eliminating all bribery and payoffs while maintaining equitable and fair dealings. |
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| 2.Observing import/export laws and regulations |
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We shall observe all applicable countries' import/export-related laws and regulations when importing or exporting goods and services or disclosing technical information about these (including software technical instruction). |
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| 3.Restrictions on entertainment and gifts |
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(1) |
Relations with customers and partners |
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We shall engage in entertainment as well as giving and receiving gifts with customers and partners only to the extent that these do not violate healthy business practices and social norms. |
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(2) |
Constructing healthy relationships with politicians and governments |
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We shall not engage in any entertainment, gift-giving, or other actions with no rational basis with domestic or foreign government officials or public servants which may be construed as inappropriate payoffs or favors. |
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Stockholder relations |
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We strive to always maintain healthy, transparent relationships with stockholders. Specifically, we shall not engage in entertainment, gift-giving, or otherwise offer economic benefit to stockholders in relation to their exercise of stockholder rights. |
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(4) |
Antisocial forces |
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We shall refuse all relations with organized crime or any other antisocial forces or organizations which threaten social order and safety, and shall steadfastly resist these forces along with society as a whole. We shall not as organizations or individuals perform any action which may aid these antisocial forces or organizations. |
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| 4.Accuracy of financial reporting |
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We shall perform accurate accounting and tax preparations in full accordance with applicable corporate accounting laws and standards. Also, we shall implement strict internal controls to make improvements in accounting accuracy and the health of financial affairs. |
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| 5.Workplace environment |
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In order to create a pleasant and safe workplace environment, we shall observe all labor-related laws as well as continuously promote improvements in workplace environment and health and safety. |
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Section 4 Ethical conduct |
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| 1.Individual actions which conflict with company benefit |
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Individual actions which conflict with or may possibly conflict with company benefit are forbidden. |
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| 2.Political and religious activities |
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Political activities within the company are forbidden unless permission has been explicitly granted. While private religious activities such as prayer during breaks are allowed, other religious activities such as sermons or proselytizing are forbidden without explicit permission. |
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| 3.Corporate information management |
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(1) |
Protecting confidential information |
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We are always aware of the proprietary nature of all classified information related to the OPTEX Group and our customers and partners. We shall take all appropriate measures to manage this information responsibly, including preventing leaks and inappropriate uses. |
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(2) |
Protecting private information |
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We shall endeavor to improve information management systems to control customer information, partner information and private information related to employees, as well as strictly follow the Private Information Protection law and other related laws. |
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(3) |
Information disclosure and public relations |
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We shall perform legally mandated information disclosure to all stakeholders (customers, partners, shareholders and investors, local communities, etc.) as well as fulfill explanatory duties by actively and accurately disseminating socially relevant information such as managerial policies, business activities, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities. |
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(4) |
Insider trading |
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We forbid use of not yet publicly available information to engage in insider trading or otherwise confer payoffs or favors to third parties, thus negatively affecting shareholder or investor value. |
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| 4.Protecting corporate assets |
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(1) |
Inappropriate use of corporate assets |
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We forbid infringement upon either tangible or intangible corporate assets for personal benefit or other inappropriate uses, and shall manage and use corporate assets in appropriate ways only. |
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Protection and use of intellectual property |
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We recognize intellectual property rights resulting from R&D or other activities as the lifeline of our business, and shall both leverage and protect these actively. Further, we respect the intellectual property rights of others, and shall not intentionally infringe upon these rights. |
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| 5.Respecting fundamental human rights |
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(1) |
Human rights |
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We respect the human rights of all individuals, and shall not discriminate in terms of labor conditions, language, or action on the basis of gender, age, nationality, race, ethnicity, beliefs, religion, social status, or physical disability.. |
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(2) |
Harassment |
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We forbid any form of harassment, including sexual harassment, power harassment, or any other, which infringes upon the dignity of the individual based on gender, position, status, or any other factor. |
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(2) |
Privacy |
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We respect the individual's right to privacy, and shall not without express consent divulge any information gained through workplace activities about the private life of any individual. |
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Section 5 Social responsibilities |
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| 1.Environmental protection and preservation |
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(1) |
Social responsibility towards the environment |
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We recognize that protection of the environment is a corporate social responsibility, and to do so we will engage in continuous environmental improvements and enhancements while observing all environmental treaties, laws, and international standards. We will also work towards improving awareness among officers and employees through promotion of environmental management systems. |
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(2) |
Environmental preservation as a part of business activities |
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We recognize that environmental protection is one of the most important goals of corporate management, and work towards improving harmony with the environment in all areas of corporate activity. The philosophy of "reduce, reuse, and recycle" forms the basis for these efforts, which also incorporate maximizing usage of resources, improving energy efficiency, and reducing industrial waste over all our activities. |
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| 2.Communicating with local communities |
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We recognize ourselves as members of our local communities, with whom we strive to develop together with in a harmonious way. |
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| 3.Social contributions |
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In addition to contributing to society through our business activities themselves, as corporate citizens we actively support and engage in social action aimed at developing and enriching society. |
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