The Japanese government plans to help companies operating global supply chains ramp up efforts to protect human rights in collaboration with the U.N. workers' rights agency, the International Labor Organization, sources familiar with the matter said Monday.
The aim is to ensure Japanese companies are informed and have staff who are trained to identify and address risks and violations of human rights in their global supply chains by adopting so-called human rights due diligence.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has placed increased emphasis on human rights issues since becoming Japan's leader in October. Japan is seen as lagging behind Europe and the United States in setting rules for companies to ensure their supply chains are free of human rights violations such as forced labor and child labor.