Bidco launches Anti-Bribery and Business Ethics Policy.

Bidco Africa Chairman Vimal Shah addressing participants during the company's launch of their code of conduct.

Consumer Goods Manufacturer Bidco Africa has launched an Anti-bribery and corruption policy to govern its business operations and interactions with all its stakeholders. 

The policy is designed to comply with Kenyan legislation governing bribery and corruption, including the recently enacted Bribery Act 2016, and Anti-corruption and Economics Crimes Act No 14 of 2014. The Bribery Act 2016, which was signed into law by President Uhuru Kenyatta in late 2016 criminalises bribery in the private sector. It also provides for specific requirements that private entities must have in place to prevent bribery.

The Act also creates a legal obligation for every person who becomes aware of an act of bribery to report the matter to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).

Bidco’s anti-bribery policy, which is part of the manufacturer’s Business code of ethics, sets out clear policies to prevent all forms of corruption including bribery, kickbacks, fraud and embezzlement. It provides guidance on the standards of behaviour to which all Bidco stakeholders including suppliers and employees must adhere, and these include outlawing bribery of public or private sector officials to influence their actions or decisions, obtain or retain business, or acquire any sort of undue advantage.

“We condemn corruption in all its forms: we will not tolerate it in our business - and we expect the same of those with whom we do business,” said Vimal Shah, Bidco Africa Group Chairman.

(Related story: Bidco targets KES 100b Turnover, 200,000 new jobs by the year 2021.)

He added, “We take a zero-tolerance approach to the making or receiving of bribes or corrupt payments in any form and will uphold all laws relevant to countering bribery and corruption in all the jurisdictions in which we operate.”

The implementation of the policy in the daily business and operations will take place through continuous training of all stakeholders – employees, suppliers, and distributors.

Rules on facilitation payments, travel, meals, entertainment, gifts as well as charitable and political donations have been clearly outlined in the policy, as well as rules on interaction with governments and public authorities.

The Bidco Africa code of ethics contains just seven short areas of ethical behavior that all employees must follow, including six core values. The core values are; relating with each other, respect, integrity, fair treatment, harassment and victimization, and sexual harassment.

The code also includes a “Whistle Blower” policy that requires employees and other stakeholders to speak up if they are aware of any violations of the code.

The code’s 7 areas are: confidentiality and non-disclosure of company information; fighting corruption; occupational health and safety, environment protection, and socially responsible corporate; Bidco values; quality assurance, sustainability, fair competition; and the whistle blower rule.

All Bidco’s 1,800 employees and 500 suppliers have to read the code of conduct, sign it and commit to live by it.