Shinwa Kaiun Group CSR Report 2008

Initiatives for EmployeesS o c i a l R e p o r tBasic Employment PolicyThere is a fundamental assumption that core staff, both administrative and technical,are permanent employees. In the spirit of Japan's Law on Securing EqualOpportunity and Treatment between Men and Women in Employment, hiring isbased only on the aptitude and capabilities of each individual, and the growth ofemployees is fostered by the company's training system. We also strive to foster thecapabilities of our non-Japanese crew and staff through expanded education andtraining programs that qualify them to occupy officer positions and to maintainlong-term on-board careers on vessels managed by the Shinwa Kaiun Group.The staff of Shinwa SingaporePte. Ltd.together with Almanac staffShipboard training for new employeesOfficer trainingTraining on how to use self-contained breathingapparatus on board the shipPersonnel SystemIn fiscal year 2001, Shinwa Kaiun introduced a personnel system under whichpromotion and advancement depend upon the individual's ability, motivation andperformance. Since its introduction, the company has fine-tuned the system basedon the opinion of employees. This system has the primary aim of meeting eachindividual at his or her current level of competence, and further developing his or herabilities as well as ensuring fair treatment.There are three career tracks for permanent employees: main career track, preparatorycareer track, and general employee. The path to advancement can open depending onthe individual’s motivation and ability, and 10 general employees had transferred to thepreparatory career track as of April 1, 2008. Also, a specialist career system foremployees possessing specialized knowledge and working in technical fieldsand are-employment system for seniors possessing extensive work experiencewasintroduced in 2006. These systems have already proved to be successful.Training SystemTo develop new employees into professionals in the field of international shipping, ShinwaKaiun provides training tailored for the career track and rank, with on-the-job training beingthe core of this training system. The company also offers training for new employees,training in shipping practice, languagesEnglish and Chinese, personal computers,domestic agency matters, boarding, and overseas administrative requirements, as well asstratified training and training for specific jobs. These provide each individual with variousopportunities for progress, according to their position and requirements.In accordance with the company's plan for quickly training young crew, exactingguidance and education is provided, allowing new employees to qualify as chief officeror first engineer in just three to four years after joining the company.Non-Japanese crew-member qualification support systems are available, in whichparticipants receive pre-boarding training in the country where they were hired, and in Tokyo,classroom training, assistance in obtaining advanced ship officer certifications, and OJT.Employee Health and SafetyAll employees of the Shinwa Kaiun Group receive annual health checkups, and thecompany bears the expense of comprehensive physical examinations for employeeswho satisfy the requisite conditions. The head office also has a special Industrial HygieneOffice where an industrial physician and an administrator with nursing qualifications offerphysical and mental health consultations and guidance on a regular basis. Activitiesimplemented in fiscal year 2007 included influenza prevention, information on sales ofover-the-counter medicines at lower prices, and mental health checkups.Safety is the top priority at sea, and the company has established and is thoroughlyimplementing a safety management system. In the unlikely event of an employeeaccident, compensations greater than those required by Japanese law are in place.Regulations for handling compliance consultationsTo facilitate consultation for employees on matters related to compliance in line withthe goal of protecting individuals who report company information of public interest,a consultation service guided by an outside lawyer has been arranged in addition tothe conventional in-house compliance adviser, and its regulations were establishedin July 2006. There were no cases for consultation in fiscal year 2007.8Shinwa Kaiun Group CSR Report 2008