Responsible business conduct in small and medium-sized enterprises: Examples of collaborative practice with BHR promotion labour and social security attorneys

This compilation of case studies was prepared as part of the “Building Responsible Value Chains in Asia through the Promotion of Decent Work in Business Operations (Phase II)” project, implemented by the ILO with support from the Government of Japan (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry).

Since 2022, Japan Federation of Labour and Social Security Attorney’s Associations has offered training for business and human rights promotion labour and social security attorneys (“BHR Sharoushi”), for which the ILO provided technical cooperation based on its expertise and the knowledge gained through the Better Work programme. Those who completed the training are active BHR Sharoushi, primarily supporting SMEs in each prefecture by creating opportunities to promote responsible business conduct and human rights initiatives, as well as by providing guidance and hands-on support as enterprises take their first steps.

This collection of case studies introduces practical examples from SMEs supported by BHR Sharoushi. It also summarizes the activities of BHR Sharoushi and highlights the common challenges and opportunities for SMEs identified through interviews. SMEs, which account for 90 per cent of all enterprises in Japan, play a vital role in the economy and local communities and are key actors in realizing decent work. We hope that the broad sharing of insights on responsible business conduct will help advance such practices regardless of industry, size or region.