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Sumiden Friend, Ltd. is Sumitomo Electric’s special subsidiary*1 established based on the Sumitomo Electric Group Basic Principles for Social Contribution with the aim of further contributing to society.
Established in July 2008 as Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.’s special subsidiary that aimed to increase employment opportunities for the mentally disabled, Sumiden Friend, Ltd. began to operate in October the same year at Sumitomo Electric’s Itami Works.
Since then, we have been striving to expand employment opportunities for the disabled, while opening sales offices in Yokohama (May 2013), Tokyo (April 2014), and Osaka (April 2015).
With support from the Sumitomo Electric Group, each of us works hard every day, demonstrating our own capabilities to the fullest in a cheerful workplace environment while feeling motivated.
We never hesitate to take on new jobs, leading to improvement in our service quality and our awareness of delivery deadlines.
While maintaining a strict attitude to work, we will continue to be aware of our mission and role as a member of the Sumitomo Electric Group. We would appreciate your continued support.
| Name | Sumiden Friend, Ltd. |
|---|---|
| Head office | 1-1-1 Koyakita, Itami, Hyogo 664-0016 (on the premises of Sumitomo Electric's Itami Works) |
| Established | July 2008 |
| Business | Greenery business (e.g. renting foliage plants) Commissioned and service business (e.g. stuffing bags with buffer materials for packing, and digitizing data) |
| Capital | 100 million yen (wholly owned by Sumitomo Electric) |
| Employees | 86, of which 54 are disabled (as of August 2018) |
| President | Noda Taro |
-To Support Social Participation of the Disabled by Promoting Their Employment-
Even prior to the establishment of Sumiden Friend, Sumitomo Electric achieved the legally required quota of disabled employees. However, this was mainly due to the employment of physically disabled people, with their work responsibilities being limited.
Based on the policy of ensuring many more employment opportunities for the disabled and expanding our social contribution, Sumitomo Electric established Sumiden Friend, Ltd. specializing in employment of the disabled, in July 2008. The company was certified as a special subsidiary*1 in February 2009 based on the Disabled Persons Employment Promotion Law.
Utilizing the Group Application System*2,2 the entire Sumitomo Electric Group will continue to promote the employment of the disabled, mainly through Sumiden Friend.
*1 A special subsidiary can be established by a company for the purpose of employment of the disabled based on the Disabled Persons Employment Promotion Law. Such a subsidiary needs to be certified by the national government.
*2 The Group Application System allows a parent company to include the number of workers (disabled workers) employed by its special subsidiary among those employed by the parent company (or the corporate group), and calculate its disabled employee rate based on this.
| 2008 April | Sumiden Electric decides to establish Sumiden Friend. |
|---|---|
| 2008 July | Sumiden Friend, Ltd. is established. |
| 2008 August | An office and a workshop for Sumiden Friend are completed. (Some available space in a plant of Sumitomo Electric is renovated.) |
| 2008 October | Sumiden Friend launches operations and employs five disabled people. |
| 2009 February | The company is certified as a special subsidiary under the Disabled Persons Employment Promotion Law. |
| 2011 May | The company employs seven disabled people (total number: 12). The second-phase construction begins. |
| 2011 November | The company holds a ceremony commemorating the completion of its new office. |
| 2012 December | The company employs five disabled people (total number: 16). |
| 2013 May | The company opens Sumiden Friend Yokohama Sales Office at Sumitomo Electric Yokohama Works, and employs four disabled people for the new office (total number: 20). |
| 2014 May | The company opens Sumiden Friend Tokyo Sales Office at Sumitomo Electric Tokyo Head Office, and employs three disabled people for the new office. The company also employs four disabled people for the Yokohama Sales Office (total number: 27). |
| 2015 April | The company opens Sumiden Friend Osaka Sales Office at Sumitomo Electric Osaka Works, and employs five disabled people for the new office (total number: 32). |
| 2016 April | The company employs eight disabled people (total number: 38). ＜Itami: 2, Yokohama: 1, and Osaka: 5＞ |
| 2017 April | The company employs seven disabled people (total number: 45). ＜Itami: 2, Yokohama: 1, Tokyo: 1, and Osaka: 3＞ |
| 2018 April | The company employs eleven disabled people (total number: 54). ＜Itami: 4, Yokohama: 2, Tokyo: 1, and Osaka: 4＞ |
Staff Members’ Qualifications
- Workplace Adaptation Supporter (Job Coach) Type 2 – 3 Persons
- This qualification is granted to those who have completed a designated training program for workplace adaptation supporters who help the disabled settle into their companies. They learn mainly about the features of disability and specific ways of providing support in an intensive one-week training program.
- Occupational Life Consultant for the Disabled – 20 Persons
- If employing five or more disabled persons, the company is legally required to appoint a staff member who provides consultation and supervision for the disabled workers’ entire occupational life. This qualification is granted to those who have completed a designated two-day training program.
- Certified Landscape Gardener and Certified Garden Decorator – 1 Person
- These qualifications certify that the holders can maintain foliage plants appropriately.
