17 Aug 2015

Japanese firm recognises gay marriage

Japanese TV shopping channel operator to offer same benefits to gay employees who marry as their straight counterparts.

Oak Lawn Marketing, which operate the Shop Japan TV shopping channel, will extend bonus and vacation leave to gay employees who register their same-sex marriage.

By offering 30,000 Yen and six days leave the company, whose chief executive is from the US, is matching the congratulatory benefits it offers straight couples.

The move comes after two Tokyo wards, Shibuya and Setagaya both announced plans to begin issuing certificates recognising same-sex partnerships later this year.

In an online statement, the company said it is committed to "promoting diversity to make it possible for each and every employee to demonstrate their abilities and shine to the maximum extent rather than demarcating people by gender or race."

Oak Lawn Marketing, INC., a NTT DOCOMO, INC. group company founded in 1993, is an omni-channel brand response company that operates the Shop Japan brand which offers products under the concept of "enriching lifestyles worldwide."

The company will also offer condolence money if a partner dies.