Here we outline our four businesses, through which we contribute widely to the lives of people around the world.
Machine tools
Citizen began production of machine tools in 1936, utilizing the technologies and know-how developed through the manufacture of watch parts. Our products contribute to the development of manufacturing industries all over the world.
About Us
More than a century since it was founded in 1918 with the desire to produce Japanese-made watches, the CITIZEN Group has evolved into a corporate entity engaged in a wide range of businesses.
CITIZEN's corporate philosophy, "Loved by citizens, working for citizens" is to
deeply contribute to the lives of people around the world through the manufacturing of products that are loved and trusted by citizens.
Message From President & CEO
Crafting a new tomorrow Towards sustainable value creation
Since its founding, The CITIZEN Group has aimed to contribute broadly to the lives of people around the world through its business activities, based on its corporate philosophy, "Loved by citizens, working for citizens." As members of a company that operates both in Japan and overseas, we have been supporting, respecting, and implementing the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact in the areas of human rights, labor, the environment, and anti-corruption since the Group signed the Compact in 2005. Article 4 of The CITIZEN Group Code of Conduct, "Respect human rights and diversity, and provide a safe and pleasant working environment," sets forth our basic policy on human rights. In accordance with this, we have established guidelines for respecting human rights, creating a good workplace, and ensuring health and safety in the workplace, and we work with our business partners to fulfill our responsibility to respect human rights.
Establishment of The CITIZEN Group Human Rights Policy
The CITIZEN Group Code of Conduct, which serves as the basis of the Group employees' activities, applies to suppliers as well, calling for them to conduct business activities based on respect for their employees' human rights. We have also been active in promoting awareness of human rights among our suppliers. With the start of Mid-term Management Plan 2021 in April 2019, we have reiterated the Group's stance on respect for human rights by formulating The CITIZEN Group Human Rights Policy, in addition to taking on the challenge of Group-wide sustainable management and aiming to achieve the SDGs through our business activities.
This policy commits The CITIZEN Group to respect the dignity and rights of all stakeholders with whom it conducts business, to not be complicit in human rights abuses, and to take prompt action to remedy and correct any negative impact on human rights.
In conjunction with the formulation of The CITIZEN Group Human Rights Policy, in 2019, we also announced the Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement and The CITIZEN Group Conflict Minerals Response Policy (revised in January 2021 as The CITIZEN Group Responsible Minerals Procurement Policy) to share awareness of human rights issues and clarify our proactive stance as a global company in addressing these issues.
The CITIZEN Group Human Rights Policy Revised: July 1, 2025 (Established April 1, 2019)
Fundamental Policy on Human Rights
The CITIZEN Group supports and maintains international norms relating to human rights. These include the International Bill of Human Rights (International Covenants on Human Rights/Universal Declaration of Human Rights/International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights/International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights), which describe the fundamental human rights that should apply to people across the world. They also include fundamental rights relating to labor as outlined by the International Labor Organization's (ILO) Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (including freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining, the elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labor, the effective abolition of child labor, and the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation). These policies have also been formulated based upon the UN's Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
The CITIZEN Group ensures that its business activities conform with the laws and regulations of the respective countries and regions in which it operates. If there are inconsistencies between internationally recognized human rights and the laws/regulations of individual countries or regions, the Group pursues methods that fundamentally respect international human rights.
Applicable Boundaries
This policy applies to all executives and employees of The CITIZEN Group. The CITIZEN Group also expects that all business partners related to its products and services conform to these policies.
Respecting Human Rights throughout our Business Operations
The CITIZEN Group respects the dignity and rights of all people. It works to ensure that fundamental human rights are maintained and respected throughout its business operations, and that it does not contribute to infringing on these rights. The Group ensures that these rights continue to be respected through its responses to any negative effects on human rights uncovered in the Group's operations. The Group ensures that progress is made with its efforts to respect human rights by following the policies and guidelines it has created for the various fields it operates in. If the Group determines that its business operations are having a negative influence on human rights, it takes responsibility by both implementing remedial measures to resolve these issues and making appropriate corrective responses.
(1) Individuals in Charge
The CITIZEN Group ensures that there is clarity regarding which executives are responsible for executing these policies, and monitors the status of their implementation.
(2) Human Rights Due Diligence
Through its efforts towards due diligence, The CITIZEN Group aims to identify any negative influences on human rights it might have, and prevent and/or mitigate their effects.
(3) Education/Training
The CITIZEN Group has implemented all required administrative procedures to ensure that the policy becomes incorporated throughout its business operations. It also provides appropriate education and training to both executives and employees, thus ensuring that the policies are fully understood and effectively implemented.
(4) Employment and Labor
(Prohibition of Forced/Child Labor)
As defined by local laws and regulations, The CITIZEN Group does not employ children who are younger than the legally required working age. In the same way, it does not allow forced labor. The Group also requires its business partners and suppliers to follow these practices.
(Positive Employer-Employee Relationships)
The CITIZEN Group promises to respect the freedom to form unions and the recognition of collective bargaining rights.
(Elimination of Discrimination)
The CITIZEN Group works to ensure equal opportunities for employment, job placement, advancement, and skills development.
(Fair Payment)
The Citizen Group complies with the statutory minimum wage and strives to pay living wages.
(5) Dialogues / Consultations
The CITIZEN Group will consult with relevant stakeholders regarding its response to potential and actual impacts on human rights.
(6) Remedies
If it is found that The CITIZEN Group has had a negative effect on human rights, or has contributed to such an effect in some manner, the Group will work to implement proper and effective corrective measures and remedies by taking necessary actions both inside and outside the Group.
(7) Disclosure of Information
The CITIZEN Group reports on its human rights efforts through both its website and CSR report.
CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD. President and Representative Director
Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement
This statement was created in line with the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015. It states that The CITIZEN Group (CITIZEN WATCH Co., Ltd. and its Group companies) strives not to infringe on human rights or be complicit in human rights abuses through both its businesses and supply chain and is committed to the elimination of modern-day slavery and human trafficking.
In 2019, the Group Human Resources Committee, chaired by the director in charge of human resources at CITIZEN WATCH, was established under the Sustainability Committee as a central organization to ensure respect for human rights. Human resources departments at the respective domestic Group companies participate in this committee as members, and they decide on measures concerning respect for human rights for the entire Group and share the status of initiatives at each company. This committee's decisions are reported as part of the Group's materiality measures to the Board of Directors through the Sustainability Committee.
The Human Resources Department of CITIZEN WATCH serves as the secretariat and supervises Group-wide efforts to respect human rights. Departments in charge of human resources at the respective Group companies in Japan are responsible for deploying decisions made by the Group Human Resources Committee and for ensuring respect for human rights and responding to human rights-related risks in the course of business activities. For deployment to overseas business sites, the Human Resources Department and the CSR Department work together to disseminate decisions made by the Human Resources Committee, as well as other important matters.
Group HR Committee Organizational Chart
Initiatives to Ensure Respect for Human Rights / Human Rights Due Diligence Initiatives
The CITIZEN Group is engaged in communication activities and training measures to share a good understanding of various policies and rules with employees and suppliers so that those policies and rules permeate the entire Group and its supply chain to ensure respect for the human rights of all stakeholders related to our business activities.
As a human rights due diligence initiative, we conduct awareness surveys of employees of domestic Group companies to identify human rights risks. We also utilize an internal reporting system (including a "Speak Up" system) to receive reports, consultation requests, opinions, and suggestions regarding human rights issues from employees, and we use this system to address risks and prevent their realization. For suppliers, we ensure that they identify risks and respect human rights by having them respond to a self-assessment questionnaire (SAQ) based on the Group CSR Procurement Guidelines.
The CITIZEN Group, as a member of the international community, fulfills its responsibility to resolve human rights issues by disclosing its Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement at the beginning of each fiscal year since it includes a company covered by the UK Modern Slavery Act. For employees with non-Japanese nationality, we provide CSR human rights survey checklists translated into their native languages, interview them, and implement other measures to investigate human rights risks in the workplace environment at each Group company.
The CITIZEN Group's Value Chain and Stakeholders
Progress on the Roadmap on Respect for Human Rights
Fostering Awareness of and Respect for Human Rights
In FY2024, we provided Group employees with an e-learning program on LGBTQ* people, as in the previous fiscal year. The participation rate was 99.4% (average of 11 Group companies), remaining at the same high level as the previous fiscal year. We have also designated December as The CITIZEN Group Human Rights Month. In FY2024, we celebrated this month by publishing in our company newsletter an article that helps deepen understanding of diversity, as well as running a campaign to raise employee awareness of the CITIZEN Group Human Rights Policy. As shown by these examples, we strive to share keen awareness of human rights issues through internal training and the newsletter. In FY2025, we will implement measures to foster respect for diversity.
* LGBTQ: Acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning
Article on human rights published in the company newsletter to publicize the issue
Human Rights Roadmap
Please scroll down to see→
FY2023 Result
FY2024 Result
FY2025
FY2030
Target
Establishment of human rights due diligence (ranging from identification of negatives to formulation of goals and plans), compliance with labor-related laws and regulations, and dissemination of the Basic Health and Safety Policy
Establishment of human rights due diligence (ranging from formulation of goals and plans to their operation and monitoring), compliance with labor-related laws and regulations, and dissemination of the Basic Health and Safety Policy
Establishment of human rights due diligence (ranging from formulation of goals and plans to their operation and monitoring), compliance with labor-related laws and regulations, and dissemination of the Basic Health and Safety Policy
Compliance with the Group Human Rights Policy (ranging from monitoring to redress process), compliance with labor-related laws and regulations, and establishment of the Basic Health and Safety Policy
KPI
E-learning participation rate: 100%
Compliance with laws and regulations regarding overtime work and acquisition of annual paid leave
Compliance with laws and regulations regarding overtime work and acquisition of annual paid leave
Compliance with laws and regulations regarding the treatment of regular/non-regular employees
Compliance with laws and regulations regarding overtime work and acquisition of annual paid leave
Compliance with laws and regulations regarding the treatment of regular/non-regular employees
E-learning participation rate: 100%
Employee education about respect for diversity
Enhancement of the Group Health and Safety Committee
Establishment of human rights due diligence at overseas sites
Zero lost-time injuries from work
Measures
Implementation of a human rights e-learning program
Development of a plan that follows a human rights due diligence process at domestic sites
Legal compliance monitoring
Promotion of awareness of the Basic Health and Safety Policy (in Japan)
Continuation of awareness-raising efforts focusing on the Basic Health and Safety Policy at domestic and overseas sites
Monitoring and compliance with laws and regulations
Promotion of awareness of the Basic Health and Safety Policy
Continuation of awareness-raising efforts focusing on the Basic Health and Safety Policy at domestic and overseas sites
Monitoring and compliance with laws and regulations through surveys of Group companies and subcommittee meetings
Respect for diversity
Promotion of awareness of the Basic Health and Safety Policy
Establishment of consultation services for employees at all locations
Improvement of the human rights due diligence process
Monitoring and compliance with laws and regulations
Continuation of activities based on the Basic Health and Safety Policy
Efforts to Build Human Rights Due Diligence
Cycle to Identify Negative Impacts
In FY2021, we embarked on operationalizing human rights due diligence, primarily centered on identifying potential adverse impacts on human rights. This encompassed the comprehensive process of data collection and risk analysis. Using a Human Rights Due Diligence Questionnaire, comprising 22 questions, which was created in alignment with the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work,* the Caux Round Table principles, and UN Global Compact standards, we successfully executed human rights risk assessments across our operational spectrum. This initiative encompassed 14 domestic companies, including Group affiliates, as well as 41 overseas entities—comprising 12 production sites, including Group overseas affiliates, and 29 sales companies. While the survey results yielded no significant human rights issues either in Japan or overseas, they were sufficiently instrumental in allowing us to identify potential forthcoming risks, which encompass areas such as harassment, disparities in treatment based on gender and age, potential overworking risks, employment stability, occupational health and safety, and collective bargaining. These identified risks were duly reported to the Sustainability Committee. In FY2023, the CITIZEN Group analyzed the current status of its commitment to supporting LGBTQ people and other sexual minorities (hereinafter collectively, "LGBTQ people") based on the PRIDE Index, which serves as an assessment tool for initiatives of this kind. The Group also established an employee consultation desk for issues related to LGBTQ people, as well as conducting training for Group personnel. Furthermore, to minimize human rights risks and further improve the working environment, we held human rights seminars and individual interviews with management. In FY2024, the CITIZEN Group provided a Group-wide e-learning program on LGBTQ people, while CITIZEN WATCH established a consultation desk with external experts.
In addition, we regularly conduct supplier questionnaire surveys and employee awareness surveys. When a risk case falls under a human rights-related risk in 360-degree feedback, we interview the people involved in that case and make the required improvements.
To identify risks through employee reporting, we have a centralized whistleblowing system with The CITIZEN Group Compliance Hotline. Furthermore, CITIZEN WATCH has established a consultation desk dedicated to harassment cases within the Human Resources Department to foster an environment where employees feel free to seek advice or report concerns.
In FY2024, one case of deficient management of overtime work occurred within the CITIZEN Group. We have provided guidance to the company where the case occurred. The company is working to prevent similar cases from recurring by thoroughly informing managers in all departments about points to note regarding overtime work management. In FY2025 as well, we will remain resolutely committed to preventing overwork and enhancing the work environment by ensuring keen awareness of the applicable laws and regulations and strict adherence thereto among employees.
* ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work: Including such items as freedom of association and recognition of the rights to collective bargaining, and the elimination of forced or compulsory labor, child labor, and discrimination
International Human Rights Risk Initiatives
In relation to the Modern Slavery Act, in FY2019, we started supplier self-assessments by sending an SAQ to encourage our suppliers to promote initiatives to reduce the risk of human rights violations. At the same time, we also seek opinions on The CITIZEN Group's human rights initiatives from third parties such as NGOs and experts.
