IHI Group Human Rights Committee Holds Lecture Titled “DE&I from the Perspective of Disabilities”
On March 6, 2025, the IHI Group held a meeting of the IHI Group Human Rights Committee at the IHI Toyosu Head Office (Koto Ward, Tokyo). The meeting featured a lecture on the theme of “DE&I from the Perspective of Disabilities.”
This lecture was held with the aim of raising awareness of DE&I (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) within the IHI Group. The featured guest lecturer was Megumi Umeda, EY Japan DE&I Leader. The lecture was attended by observers including presidents of business areas and general managers of corporate divisions, as well as employees in charge of human rights awareness promotion activities. The lecture was also streamed online. A total of 43 people attended and viewed the lecture.
Umeda began by introducing the definition of disability, the current situation surrounding people with disabilities, and the interpretation of reasonable accommodation*. Next, she explained that the key to promoting DE&I is to achieve inclusion by acting with an awareness of the perspectives of insiders within the organization and outsiders outside the organization.
Finally, Umeda introduced some cases in which she has been involved, along with what is needed to expand the employment and career development possibilities for people with disabilities. Drawing on a case from her time at IBM Japan, Umeda shared success factors behind individuals who not only advanced their careers within the company but also expanded their opportunities beyond it, as well as the perspectives of employees with disabilities who, while competing on the same playing field as non-disabled colleagues, seized work opportunities and built long-term careers. Furthermore, as an example from her current employer EY Japan, Umeda introduced initiatives aimed at improving the employment and working conditions of people with disabilities. She also discussed networks for employees with disabled family members and people with disabilities themselves, and shared her own thoughts on these initiatives.
The IHI Group will continue to implement necessary initiatives to enable individuals with disabilities to fully demonstrate their abilities, not only in response to statutory employment requirements, but also from the perspective of promoting DE&I.
- Reasonable accommodation means removing various barriers in daily life so that all people can live equally in society, regardless of whether or not have a disability.