A survey asking 100 major Japanese companies about actions they have taken to protect the rights of sexual minorities found more than 80 percent have introduced or plan to introduce written company polices prohibiting discriminating against them.

But while large companies are taking the lead in these initiatives, the poll also revealed how businesses are struggling to adapt their policies.

Some companies confessed to having trouble in understanding the needs of LGBT employees because they find it difficult to see what the employees are struggling with.

Many respondents also pointed out the government does not provide enough support for companies in this area, for example, by making relevant legislation.

The Asahi Shimbun surveyed Japan’s top 100 large companies across various industries in late November. It asked the businesses to list actions they had already taken or were planning to introduce to help sexual minorities. The companies could cite multiple actions.

The most common action taken, done or to be done by 84 companies, was introducing written company rules prohibiting discrimination against sexual minorities.

About half, or 51 companies, said they have already offered or were planning to offer same-sex partners of employees part or all of the companies’ welfare packages that are generally available to the spouses of staff.

Kengo Sakurada, president of Sompo Holdings Inc., a major insurance company, said his company is currently working on making this change.

“We are reviewing our welfare package, including housing benefits, congratulatory or condolence leave, family care leave and parental leave, so that same-sex partners of our employees are regarded as their spouses who are eligible for these benefits,” he said. 

NEC Corp., a leading IT and electronics company, updated its company policies so that their employees’ common-law marriage partners, including same-sex partners, are treated in the same way as legal husbands or wives. They did this by including common-law marriage partners and same-sex partners in the definition of “spouses” in the company rules.

But Maki Muraki, the head of Nijiiro Diversity, an NPO that advocates for more rights for sexual minorities, said there is still a long way to go.

“The actions companies take to protect sexual minority rights serve as a barometer for how aware they are of global human rights challenges,” Muraki said. “Large companies are ahead of others in this area partly because many of them operate in foreign countries where sexual minorities are well-protected by public policies and initiatives.”

And simply having a policy is not always a good measure of a healthy workplace, she said.

“It is good to offer sexual minorities welfare packages, but whether the company environment is good enough for them to use those benefits is a different matter,” she said. “Companies always need to be reminded that sexual minorities find it hard to communicate their thoughts.”

The survey also asked the businesses about the challenges they face in taking actions to protect the rights of sexual minorities.

Most reported problems, cited by 70 companies, is difficulties in understanding the needs or views of sexual minority employees.

Satoshi Asahi, director and senior managing executive officer for Nippon Life Insurance Co., hinted that the collective term “LGBT” may hide the fact that people in each categories have different issues.

“Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people each experience different issues and have different views. Our challenge is understanding their disparate needs.”

Meanwhile, 34 respondents said the government does not provide enough support to firms, including by making relevant laws.

Nomura Holdings Inc. pointed out that there is no nationwide law banning discrimination against sexual minorities.

The company said its branches in non-urban areas hold seminars for employees on sexual minority issues to raise awareness and understanding.

Same-sex marriage is currently not legally recognized in Japan. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party has also shelved a bill aimed at promoting understanding about sexual minorities this year after some in the party voiced persistent opposition to it.

In marked contrast, local authorities are increasingly introducing “partnership systems” to publicly recognize same-sex couples.

Almost 130 local authorities, which cover about 40 percent of Japan’s population, have now embraced it.

But Nijiiro Diversity pointed out that the system has only been introduced in a patchwork manner across the country and access to it varies region by region.

Muraki called on the government to enact greater protections for the LGBT community.

“In Japan, sexual minorities working for midsize or small companies or living in non-urban areas are left out,” she said. “The government should legislate against discrimination against sexual minorities and legalize same-sex marriage.”