Sumitomo Participates in Ministerial "Ikumen Project"

Oct. 04, 2010

Sumitomo Participates in Ministerial "Ikumen Project"

In view of its support of the project's aims, Sumitomo Corporation (President and CEO: Susumu Kato; Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo) will join the Ikumen Project, an initiative launched in June 2010 by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare to promote the participation by men in child rearing.

The project aims to increase the number of "ikumen"--men who seek their own personal development through active parenting--as a means of achieving the enrichment of society. As of September 22, 2010, more than 700 individuals and 174 companies and groups were registered as ikumen supporters. Sumitomo decided to take part in the project in the expectation that helping its male employees to fulfill their paternal roles during the limited time in their lives in which they can engage in childcare will lead to greater motivation for work and the creation of new value.

As part of its participation in the Ikumen Project, Sumitomo intends to continue to encourage male employees to take paternity leave. Sumitomo will also make ongoing efforts to create even better working environments as a pioneering company making efforts to address the issue of work-life balance.

Upon becoming a supporter of "ikumen," we hereby declare as follows:

[Sumitomo's Declaration as an Ikumen Supporter]
Sumitomo Corporation believes that the enrichment of every aspect of the life of each employee, including their working lives, will give rise to new vitality and lead to the creation of new value.
We have only a limited period in our lives in which we can be involved in parenting. We can also learn a lot from raising children, both as parents and human beings.
Sumitomo supports its "ikumen" employees, who give everything they have in both their work and family lives, seeking their own continuous growth and development.

Ikumen Project

[URL] https://ikumen-project.jp/index.html (Japanese Only)

Information on Sumitomo's work-life balance measures can be found on the company's website.
The website also provides information about the company's efforts to improve working environments, comments from employees and more.

[URL] http://www.sumitomocorp.co.jp/society/wlb/index.html (Japanese Only)

Sumitomo Corporation has obtained the "Kurumin" mark from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Kurumin certification is granted to companies recognized by the MHLW as complying with the Act on Advancement of Measures to Support Raising Next-Generation Children and making positive efforts to support employees with dependent children.

Inquiries

Corporate Communications Department

Sumitomo Corporation

TEL: 81-3-5166-3100　　E-mail: press@sumitomocorp.co.jp