06 September, 2006

Omron Recognized for Continuing Efforts to Promote Employment of Physically-Challenged People

Omron is honored with an award from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare

From the viewpoint of corporate social responsibility (CSR), Omron considers it essential to continue making meaningful contributions as a responsible corporate citizen. In the area of equal employment opportunities, for example, Omron established Omron Taiyo Co., Ltd. and Omron Kyoto Taiyo Co. Ltd., with the goal of providing a greater number of physically-challenged people with places to work and opportunities to demonstrate their capabilities. Another example is the appointment of Omron founder Kazuma Tateisi as the first chairman of the Kyoto Prefecture Association for the Employment of Persons with Disabilities (now, the Kyoto Prefecture Association for the Employment of the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities). Dr. Tateisi continued in his role as chairman of this association for 15 years, demonstrating the company’s early and consistent commitment to promoting normalization.(*1)


In acknowledgement of the company’s outstanding track record in the employment of physically-challenged people, Omron has been honored with the Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Award as part of the Ministry’s 2006 commendations for exemplary workplaces employing people with disabilities. On September 6, an award ceremony was held at Matsuzakaya Department Store’s main hall in Tokyo, alongside an exhibition showcasing award-winning designs and photos of posters encouraging the employment of disabled persons. Representing Omron, Executive Vice President Tadao Tateisi attended the ceremony and accepted the certificate of commendation.

This commendation is sponsored by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and recognizes corporations that are actively involved in the employment of persons with disabilities. It is intended to strengthen the awareness and understanding of employers regarding issues related to employment of disabled persons. This year, 20 corporations were chosen to receive the Minister’s Award, including Mitsubishi Electric, Seiyu, Seiko Epson and Omron.

*1 “Normalization” refers to ensuring that the opportunities and living conditions of physically-challenged people are as similar as possible to those normally available to all people in a society.

A Comment from Executive Vice President Tadao Tateisi
I am deeply moved that Omron has been honored with the Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Award as an exemplary workplace for the employment of persons with disabilities, not least because this is an issue which the Omron founder was especially passionate about. In seeking to carry on the founder ’s work, I hope we will all strive even harder to create workplaces that motivate persons with disabilities, and remain committed to the principle of “Not charity but a chance.” (*2)

Omron’s Commitment to the Employment of Persons with Disabilities
Omron has been dedicated to providing workplaces in which persons with disabilities and those without can work together by making maximum use of their capabilities. As part of this drive, Omron and Japan Sun Industries established Japan’s first factory staffed and run by disabled people in 1972. This joint venture factory, called Omron Taiyo Co., Ltd., was followed by another joint venture establishment in 1986 – Omron Kyoto Taiyo Co., Ltd. In 1993, Omron met the legal requirement for the percentage of disabled employed on our staff (1.6% at that time) in Japan. Since then, we have continued with domestic group-wide efforts to increase the percentage of disabled employees every year. As a result, the overall group-wide percentage in Japan reached 2.04% during the present fiscal year, up 0.26 points from the previous fiscal year.


Our ongoing efforts to expand employment of persons with disabilities are aimed at achieving 1.8% (the legally mandated level) at all group companies in Japan by the end of fiscal 2007 and to raise the domestic group-wide percentage to 2.3%, which ranks among the highest in the Japanese electronics and electrical industry.

The Omron Group is working aggressively to expand work opportunities for persons with disabilities outside Japan as well. In China, for example, our goal is to achieve legally mandated levels for hiring disabled persons specified for various parts of the country (1.6% in Shanghai, 1.7% in Beijing, 1.7% in Dalian, 1.5% in Guangzhou, and 0.5% in Shenzhen) at all sites in respective regions by the end of fiscal 2008. Some sites in Dalian and Shanghai have already met the legal requirements specified by their respective cities.

Reported by Tsuyoshi Nabetani, General Manager, Human Resources Development Department, Human Capital Management HQ.

*2 “Not charity but a chance” is the motto of Japan Sun Industries (Taiyo-no-Ie). It is a reflection of the personal philosophy of Dr. Yutaka Nakamura, founder of Japan Sun Industries. Dr. Nakamura, who devoted his entire life to helping people with disabilities to fully participate in society, held the belief that it is essential for disabled persons to earn economic self-dependence and self-support through work. The motto therefore emphasizes the importance of providing disabled persons with the appropriate vocational training and a place to work, rather than offering mere protection. This philosophy is fully instilled in both Omron Taiyo and Omron Kyoto Taiyo, jointly established by Omron and Japan Sun Industries.