Promoting Women’s Advancement and Recruiting, Developing and Promoting Diverse Talent

「Building on these initiatives, the Company will newly issue a DEIB (diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging) declaration from fiscal 2026 and promote the creation of an organization where everyone can thrive as themselves, with the aim of achieving a workplace with greater psychological safety. Under the PRIDE Index, the Company and 1 group company received Gold certification for the first time in fiscal 2025 following the introduction of a partnership system.」

「2030 targets • Development of transformation leaders: 780 people • Male employees taking childcare leave: 85% • Employee satisfaction survey: at least 80%」

「Number of female managers: 27, 35, 41; 1.5 times the fiscal 2020 level. Number of female employees: 328, 343, 365; a 25% increase from fiscal 2020. Percentage of male employees taking childcare leave: 17.5%, 32.9%, 35.3%, 20%.」

「The Company has set a target of 35 female managers in fiscal 2023, 1.5 times the fiscal 2020 level, and 343 female employees, a 25% increase from fiscal 2020. It is also implementing the five-year action plan under the Act on Promotion of Women's Participation and Advancement in the Workplace, covering 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2026, including actively recruiting women and preparing a management development plan to achieve these targets.」

「In the access business, the Company hired 5 foreign nationals from the Philippines under the specified skilled worker program. The 5 new employees passed the first specified skilled worker evaluation test in the construction sector conducted overseas, in the telecommunications category. After acquiring basic skills through safety training for various tasks and technical training in optical-fiber cable installation, they are scheduled to work on construction projects at actual sites.」

「In March 2022, the Company was selected for fiscal 2021 Semi-Nadeshiko, a program jointly conducted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Tokyo Stock Exchange to identify listed companies with outstanding performance in promoting women's participation. Its diversity initiatives, pursued since 2016 as a management strategy aimed at revitalizing the organization, were recognized, making this its third selection in 3 consecutive years, following its selection for fiscal 2019 Nadeshiko Brand and fiscal 2020 Semi-Nadeshiko.」

「In March 2021, the Company was selected for fiscal 2020 Semi-Nadeshiko, a program jointly conducted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Tokyo Stock Exchange to identify listed companies with outstanding performance in promoting women's participation. Its diversity initiatives, pursued since 2016 as a management strategy aimed at revitalizing the organization, continued to receive recognition.」

「The Company was selected for fiscal 2019 Nadeshiko Brand, a program jointly conducted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Tokyo Stock Exchange to identify listed companies with outstanding performance in promoting women's participation. Since 2016, it has been actively promoting diversity as a management strategy aimed at revitalizing the organization. Going forward, it will promote diversity and inclusion for the Company's sustainable growth by recognizing diverse values regardless of gender, beliefs, nationality, disability status or sexual orientation, rather than limiting its efforts to women's participation.」

「In light of legislation to promote work-style reform, the Company conducted a trial aimed at introducing telework, primarily for employees responsible for childcare or nursing care, as part of its efforts to create an environment that supports flexible working arrangements.」

「In addition, in November 2018, the Company was selected by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications for the Telework Pioneers 100 program in recognition of its efforts to fully introduce telework to accommodate increasingly diverse work styles as part of its work-style reform initiatives. It will continue working toward a workplace where each employee can work with vitality.」

「In addition, as the Group promotes diversity and work-life balance, labor and management leaders issued a joint declaration on work-style reform, and the Company appointed a dedicated diversity promotion officer within the Human Resources Department. Going forward, it will pursue work-style reform, including reducing total working hours and encouraging employees to take their annual paid leave, with the aim of creating a workplace where each employee can work with vitality.」

「In addition, under the Act on Promotion of Women's Participation and Advancement in the Workplace, we received the highest, third-level “Eruboshi” certification from the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare as a company with outstanding performance in promoting women's advancement. The Group will promote diversity by creating a workplace environment where people can work comfortably and by recruiting, developing, and appointing diverse talent.」