SMBC Group has developed various administrative processes and work systems.
Additionally, all Group companies maintain an employment rate of people with disabilities at or above the statutory employment rate.
Numerical results
| FY2021 | FY2022 | FY2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ratio of employees with disabilities | 2.7% | 2.7% | 2.8% |
- * SMBC Group composite data
Creating an environment where all employees can take on active roles
SMBC Green Service
Universal Talk
We have established a special subsidiary, SMBC Green Service, to hire employees with various disabilities and promote the employment of people with disabilities.
SMBC Green Service provides a work environment with "hardware" and "software" aspects that enable employees to work and take on active roles with peace of mind.
On the "hardware" side, for example, we have introduced Universal Talk, which utilizes voice recognition to produce text, and have installed facial recognition monitors and other infrastructure to facilitate communication and accessibility.
Our "software" approaches include implementing an employment support system with specially-qualified counselors and a personnel system that helps employees advance their careers. Through these efforts, SMBC Green Service has realized the "rewarding workplace" stipulated in its Credo (corporate philosophy).
Nikko MiRun
Headquartered in Nihonbashi-Koamicho, the SMBC Nikko Securities special subsidiary Nikko MiRun Inc. has employees with disabilities who do light work duties for other Group firms. The company also operates the MiRun Farm in Ichihara, Chiba Prefecture, where employees with disabilities cultivate vegetable crops under the guidance of eight farming supervisors. The farm also hosts "normalization training," where SMBC Nikko Securities employees undertake manual farm labor alongside their colleagues with disabilities.
This initiative was selected as an example of best practice in March 2016 by the body* promoting the Principles for Financial Action for the 21st Century by Ministry of the Environment.
- * Formulated by Japan's Ministry of the Environment, the principles provide a guide for financial institutions in the responsibilities and roles they must follow to help realize a sustainable society.
Athletes with disabilities
We have top-level athletes with disabilities on staff who are engaged in activities aimed at raising awareness of sports for people with disabilities and promoting social understanding. They participate in competitions and conduct lecture meetings and courses across Japan and overseas.
Creating branches that customers with impairments can easily visit
To ensure that elderly customers and those with disabilities can visit our branches with peace of mind, we are incorporating the principles of universal design into our branch layouts. Additionally, we conduct study sessions and distribute a manual to equip all employees with "universal manners."
Contribution to Achieving
and Developing Safe and Secure Communities
Joining an outside initiative
Aligning with the principles of "The Valuable 500 (*)", an international initiative to promote the active participation of people with disabilities, SMBC Group joined this initiative in December 2020.
- (*) Launched at the 2019 World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, The Valuable 500 is an initiative to promote workplace inclusion of people with disabilities.
Having been established based on the concept that "inclusive businesses create inclusive societies," this initiative is aimed at encouraging business leaders to make the changes necessary to enable people with disabilities to unlock their business, social, and economic value.
Commitment of SMBC Group
SMBC Group recognises that diversity and inclusion are core to our growth strategy. We are committed to creating a working environment where every employee can fulfil their potential irrespective of their background, and where diversified talent bear even more synergy to generate new value, for our customers, our communities and our society.
We will continue focusing our efforts on the following areas in order to support employees with disabilities and strive to realize a society where people with disabilities can enrich their living with peace of mind;
- ●We comply with the legal mandated percentage of employees with disabilities.
- ●We continue to improve our infrastructure and holding training sessions to create a universal working environment, where employees with disabilities can be supported to deliver their full potential.
- ●To enable every customer to visit our branches with ease, we are progressing to have barrier-free branches and support tools that are universal design compliant.
- ●We are striving to enhance our appropriate services for customers with disabilities, and provide training sessions and toolkits for our branch employees including inside-the-branch guiding support.
- ●Para-athletes are invited to take part in sports workshops and join panels in employee awareness-raising sessions to promote increased recognition regarding sports for persons with disabilities.
In order to offer our clients new and higher-value services and to continue to grow with all of our stakeholders, we will continue to promote diversity and inclusion throughout SMBC Group.
