The Labour Bank SDGs Action Guidelines
have been Formulated
Labour Banks have recently formulated the “Labour Bank SDGs Action Guidelines” to advance our eﬀorts toward realization of theSDGs. Through diligent pursuit of the Labour Banks’ mission of facilitating improvements in the daily lives of working people
through the Labour Bank movement, we will go forward with our eﬀorts to perform our role and attain the SDGs in a manner that is
expected of Labour Banks as cooperative ﬁnancial institutions.
The SDGs slogan “leave no one behind” and the idea of “ﬁnancial inclusion,” which aims at a situation where all people are able togain access to and make use of necessary ﬁnancial services is well-matched with the founding history, principles and vision ofLabour Banks.

The Labour Bank SDGs Action Guidelines– March 2019 –Labour Banks, as non-proﬁt cooperative ﬁnancial institutions for working people, take on the task of
support for improvements in the daily lives of working people throughout their lifetimes based on the“Labour Bank Principles” and the “Labour Bank Vision” for the realization of these principles. LabourBanks will aim toward the attainment of the SDGs though a further strengthening and thoroughgoing
implementation of these activities, striving to resolve the various social issues surrounding workingpeople.
Labour Banks will create a flow of money that contributes to the realization of a sustainable society by
utilizing the valued funds of working people as, among others, ﬁnancing for improvements in the daily
lives of the working people themselves and in environmental, social and governance (ESG) investment,
which has consideration for society and the environment.
Labour Banks will strengthen their network with the members of trade unions and consumer cooperatives; non-proﬁt, cooperative sector organizations related to worker welfare, such as collectives, NPOs,and social welfare corporations; associations and foundations; municipalities, and others, and will
cooperate with these organizations in the work toward the resolution of social issues such as community welfare, education, environment, natural disasters and other issues.
Labour Banks will publicize the achievements of various eﬀorts toward attainment of the SDGs and will
expand the circle of sympathy with the attainment of the SDGs by informing the broader society,including members and working people, that using Labour Banks will lead to advances toward the SDGs.

The Principles of Labour BanksLabour Banks are ﬁnancial cooperatives that cultivate thedreams and ideals of our workers.
Labour Banks consider their objectives to be twofold: promoteeconomic, welfare, environmental and cultural activities by
their members; and create, by working together, a society inwhich all people can live in happiness.
Labour Banks are formed from worker-based organizations
and organizations that keep their doors open to a wide rangeof citizens. This network of member organizations is theessence of the Labour Banks.
Members participate in the administration of Labour Banks asequals, seeking to improve the activities and projects of thebanks.
Sincerity, fairness, and openness are key Labour Bank
principles. By their commitment to sound management,
Labour Banks will endeavor to keep faith with their members.

The Labour Bank Vision (2015-2025)
1 We will support workers’ livelihoods throughout theirlifetimes.
2 We will fulﬁl our role as providers of core ﬁnancial functions
for the non-proﬁt and cooperative sector.
3 We will contribute to creating an inclusive society byconnecting people with one another and to their communities.

What are the SDGs?

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are international goals for theperiod 2016 to 2030 that were laid down in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development adopted by the United Nations Summit in September 2015. TheSDGs consist of 17 goals, such as “end poverty” and “end hunger,” and a total of
169 targets (individual goals) that have been set for all the goals. The
importance of the SDGs has been recognized globally and Japan is also
expected to actively promote the attainment of the SDGs.

SDGsLabour Bank Actions and theStrengthen the Labour Bank
movement and strive forattainment of the SDGs.

Labour Banks promote the creation of a society inwhich all working people and their families can enjoy
safe, secure and abundant lives throughout their
lifetimes by maintaining continual provision of quality
ﬁnancial products and services.

Labour Banks aim for the realization of a society whichenables everyone to work and live in health andsecurity without fear of discrimination or exclusion andwithout falling into social isolation due to diﬀerencesin age, gender, disability, economic status, etc.
Labour Banks take action to support employment,social participation and economic independence
through improving access to ﬁnancial services forpeople who ﬁnd themselves in harsh economic
circumstances.

Labour Banks strive to create an environment inwhich everyone is guaranteed an equal opportunity toreceive quality education and all workers are able tocontinue lifelong learning in order to raise their skill
levels. As well as promoting ﬁnancial and economic
education, Labour Banks respond to various ﬁnancing
needs related to education.

Labour Banks strive to create a sustainable society
through investment with consideration for theenvironment and society, investment in companies
that display excellent corporate governance, and also
through cooperation with organizations that are
making eﬀorts in this direction.

Labour Banks aim for the realization of an inclusive
and peaceful society without discrimination or conflict
and which enables everyone to live in security throughactions to resolve social issues by making use ofnetworks with, and by cooperating with, trade unions
and consumer cooperatives, NPOs, social welfarecorporations, associations and foundations, municipalities and others.

Labour Banks, while deepening the understanding of thecreation of a sustainable society, will review the natureand conduct of work in Labour Banks and will
promote improvements in workplace environment
to enable active participation by diverse humanresources through striving toward the attainmentof the SDGs.
Labour Bank oﬃcials and staﬀ, as members of thelocal community, will personally think and act whilebearing in mind the attainment of the SDGs during their
daily lives and work.

©ROKIN

Various eﬀorts being made by nationwide Labour Banks toward attainmentof the SDGs are regularly introduced on
the Japanese pages of the National
Association of Labour Banks’ website.

Please check thisout for details
https://all.rokin.or.jp/blog/

Planning & International Dept.,
National Association of Labour BanksMarch 2019