The European Union Business Forum in Ethiopia (“the EUBFE”)’s Code of Conduct (“the Code”) sets out basic principles to guide the EUBFE and its members in the conduct of their activities. This Code is intended to promote business practices in accordance with high standards of integrity and in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. By joining the EUBFE, a member shall ensure that its activities abide by this Code.

 

Compliance with Laws, Rules and Regulations

Members of the EUBFE shall comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations.

 

Anti-bribery and anti-corruption practices

The EUBFE rejects and actively discourages corrupt behaviour and bribery by means of the exchange of cash, gifts or information. Members of the EUBFE must have an ethical behaviour in all business transactions.

 

Discrimination and Harassment

Members of the EUBFE must respect the personal dignity, privacy
and personal rights of their employees and are committed to maintaining a workplace free from discrimination and harassment. They must therefore not discriminate on the basis of origin, nationality, religion, race, gender, age or sexual orientation, or engage in any kind of verbal or physical harassment based on any of the above or any other reason.

 

Health and Safety

Members of the EUBFE must be committed to provide a safe and healthy workplace for all their employees notably by following environmental, safety and health laws and practices.

 

Environment

Members of the EUBFE shall minimise any damage to the environment arising from their activities and must ensure to meet lawful environmental standards related to their respective industries. They shall also promote environmental care, the understanding of environmental issues and the dissemination of good practice.

Competition

Members of the EUBFE must be dedicated to ethical, fair, transparent and vigorous competition. They must respect intellectual and other property rights and promote a business-friendly environment.

 

Confidentiality

Any non-public information entrusted to the EUBFE and its members shall remain confidential, excepted when disclosure is authorised or legally mandated.

 

Conflicts of Interest

The EUBFE must avoid any situation where a member’s interest interferes, or appears to interfere, with the interest of another member. Members of the EUBFE must avoid any situation where their personal interest might interfere with the interest of the EUBFE.

 

UN Global Compact

The EUBFE strongly supports the UN Global Compact’s Ten Principles that incite companies to embrace, support and enact, within their sphere of influence, a set of core values in the areas of human rights, labour standards, environment protection and anti-corruption.

 

Human Rights

• Principle 1:Businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights; and
• Principle 2:make sure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses.

 

Labour

• Principle 3:Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining;
• Principle 4:the elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour;
• Principle 5:the effective abolition of child labour; and
• Principle 6:the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.

 

Environment

• Principle 7:Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges;
• Principle 8:undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility; and
• Principle 9:encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies.

 

Anti-Corruption

• Principle 10:Businesses should work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery.