GIKEN selected as the FY2021 Nadeshiko Brand

GIKEN LTD. (Head Office: Kochi City, President: Shinnosuke Moribe) was selected as the FY2021 Nadeshiko Brand, a designation given to Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) listed companies with outstanding initiatives to promote women's active participation in the workplace*. The Nadeshiko Brand was launched in FY2012 as a joint initiative by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and TSE. This fiscal year, 50 companies were selected from among the approximately 3,700 enterprises listed on all TSE sections, and only two companies were chosen from the machinery industry.

As part of our efforts to become an attractive global company in which diverse human resources can realize their full potential, we focus on developing female managers and utilizing female human resources.

One of the highly evaluated points of GIKEN is the promotion system in which management and business divisions cooperate collaboratively. We have established a cross-divisional organization called "Positive Action (Promotion of Women's Active Participation) Project (hereafter, PAPJ)” led by female employees. Alongside their respective core work, members cultivate professional skills required for leaders and managers by working on issues such as resolving management topics and improving company’s brand equity. These activities have also led to an improvement in the overall organizational strength.

GIKEN will continue to aim to be a company where diverse human resources can maximize their abilities and play an active role.

※ Please refer announcement from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry on March 22, 2022 for more details.
https://www.meti.go.jp/english/press/2022/0322_005.html

The Nadeshiko Brands is selected annually for the purpose of promoting investment to investors who emphasize on improving corporate value in the mid-and long-term. It also aims to accelerate further efforts for encouraging women’s success in the workplace.

[Our acknowledgments]
The machinery and manufacturing industry has an image that there are few occupations in which women can play an active role. However, the founder of GIKEN has a policy of "Gender does not matter at the workplace, employees shall be assessed by their ability." Therefore, women have participated in management from an early stage and have played an active role in various work fields, including factories and test fields. GIKEN have created a workplace in which women can utilize their own characteristics. However, the external recognition of the corporate culture is low, and it tends to have the image of a "male-centered company."

To achieve 70% of total group sales overseas, GIKEN Group needs to ensure superior human resources. We must showcase the company globally as an attractive company where diverse human resources realize their full potential.

[Background to the establishment of PAPJ]
In response to the enactment of the Act on Promotion of Women's Participation and Advancement in the Workplace in April 2016, GIKEN formulated an action plan to promote women's active participation in the workplace. In the course of discussions, it was determined that the following two points shall be resolved to dispel the “male-centered company” image.

1.
Issue: The number of female employees is small. The percentage of female employees’ accounts for less than 20% of the total.
Measures: Set a target value of the ratio of female employees to hire and announce it externally

2.
Issue: The proportion of women in managerial posts is less than 10% of the total. The number is deficient even considering the ratio of female employees
Measures: Encourage challenges in diverse jobs and develop female human resources who can thrive in various fields and stages. At the same time, clarify how to promote the active participation of women and how to design women's positions in the organization as concrete measures that are visible externally.

[Launch of PAPJ]
In April 2018, we launched PAPJ to accelerate the development and retention of women's human resources and demonstrate this stance internally and externally. Based on the motto of "Act ahead of laws and ordinances," PAPJ aims for female employees to participate in solving management issues by working with executive management through cross-functional communication. Under the leadership of a female executive, female employees thrive and improve their skills by leveraging their individual strengths actively without any restraints. Members acquire diverse skills directly linked to management, such as communication skills, broad perspective view, and optimal utilization of management resources such as people, goods, money, information, and time.

[Initiatives]
The organization is reviewed annually, and there are 24 members this fiscal year. Members are divided into multiple teams based on the basic policies of "creating a pleasant workplace," "improving employee satisfaction," and "improving the brand equity of the company." The teams set individual topics such as "everyday 10-minute self-study" and "strengthening the nursing care leave system" and work towards implementing them.

Since PAPJ members communicate and exchange opinions directly with the executive management, they can work with a sense of speed when making new suggestions and implementations.

[PAPJ activities result]

The activities of PAPJ have led to several recognitions. The efforts to encourage male employees to take childcare leave won the Grand Prix at the IKUMEN Enterprise Award 2020 organized by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. In January 2022, GIKEN was awarded the grand prize in the "Leading Company Award for Supporting Women's Active Participation and Childcare," sponsored by the Shikoku Committee for the Promotion of Measures to Cope with the Declining Birthrate. Additionally, in March, GIKEN were selected “2022 Certified Health & Productivity Management Outstanding Organizations” by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Nippon Kenko Kaigi*.

*Please refer to our news release for more information(Link).

※The term "Health and Productivity Management" is a registered trademark of the Workshop for the Management of Health on Company and Employee.

[PAPJ　Achievements (Human resources development on female employees)]
Since its establishment in 2018, seven of the 36 PAPJ members are on commission in managerial positions, and eight are in Assistant Manager positions as candidates for managerial positions (as of March 1, 2022). They play an active role using the skills gained through PAPJ activities and connections with various departments, and they are disseminating their opinions from a broader and multifaceted perspective.

Going forward, we will continue to work hard to improve the workplace environment and foster an internal corporate culture to solidify the foundation on which all employees can thrive regardless of their gender or other attributes.

■ Profile of GIKEN Group
GIKEN developed the SILENT PILER, the world’s first reaction-based hydraulic pile jacking machine, installing piles with no noise and vibration. GIKEN Group now actively promotes the Press-in Technology worldwide and contributes to the construction industry by proposing and implementing innovative solutions. The innovative technology of press-in provides a unique solution and the adoption of this technology has grown to more than 40 nations and regions.