NEWS News

On August 7, 2026, JaCER held an online meeting of its Advisory Board. Advisory Board members, including Anita Ramasastry, Aishah Bidin, and Dante Pesce Gonzalez, participated in the meeting and exchanged views on the operation of JaCER’s Engagement and Remedy Platform and potential improvements to the mechanism.

 The meeting focused in particular on the criteria for closing grievance cases. JaCER explained its basic approach that, including in cases where the parties are unable to reach agreement, JaCER does not determine the substantive merits of a case. Instead, it assesses the adequacy of the process undertaken by the company, including fact-finding, meaningful dialogue, consideration of corrective and remedial measures, and the provision of necessary information.

 Advisory Board members expressed broad support for this approach and provided a range of recommendations. These included confirming whether companies have followed their own grievance-handling procedures, developing clearer criteria for assessing the adequacy of fact-finding and meaningful dialogue, and considering follow-up after the closure of cases.

 JaCER also reported on the number and status of grievances submitted to the Platform. The meeting discussed the importance of accumulating and analysing lessons learned from individual cases and sharing good practices among JaCER member companies. Advisory Board members suggested, among other things, analysing cases by issue and geographic region to identify trends over time and broader structural challenges.

 Following the meeting, and taking into account the discussions as well as feedback received from stakeholders in Japan and abroad, JaCER subsequently developed the Criteria for Closing Grievance Cases. Through these and other efforts, JaCER continues to enhance the predictability, transparency, and effectiveness of its Engagement and Remedy Platform.

 JaCER will continue its dialogue with the Advisory Board and incorporate international expertise into its practices, with a view to facilitating dialogue between companies and affected stakeholders and promoting access to effective remedy.