Keidanren (Japan Federation of Economic Organizations)
December 17, 1996
(Übernommen von http://www.keidanren.or.jp/english/policy/pol052.html am 15.10.2003)
First, because the socioeconomic system that sustained postwar rapid economic growth has reached its limits and has even become a factor constraining future development, concrete action for fundamental reform of the system is required. Second, as the world becomes increasingly borderless, corporate globalization has taken on a broader dimension. It is now necessary to reassess our corporate behavior from a more global perspective. Third, the ongoing development of a society of sophisticated information networks has generated new types of problems in corporate ethics. Innovative methods for dealing with these problems must now be found by corporate management. Forth, the times require that corporate management actively incorporate nature conservation, preservation of the global environment, and philanthropic activities in their business strategies. Fifth, the coming into force of the Product Liability Law and the amendments to the Commercial Code in connection with the shareholders' representative litigation system require corporations to strengthen self-responsibility and further enhance transparency. Sixth, as deregulation proceeds, corporations must cease their reliance on government, and actively assume responsibility in their own business activities even in regard to roles hitherto considered the province of the public sector. These changes require a reassessment of corporate behavior, including relations with consumers, users, shareholders, employees, customers and clients, local communities, and other stakeholders. Corporations, embodying the aims of this Charter for Good Corporate Behavior and resolving to coping with the change, must take the lead in this social reform.
Keidanren's member corporations agree and proclaim that they will make the spirit of the following Charter for Good Corporate Behavior the criterion of their corporate behavior.