The key elements of the anti-corruption compliance program in business companies are regular trainings and courses, as well as applicable laws, company’s ethics and compliance policies, procedures and resources in order to direct it to its management, employees and board members.

One of the most important challenges is avoidance of legal jargon or mere presentation of the content.

Instead, the information should be accessible to the audience and have practical significance for fulfilling their daily duties. If employees see that relevance and ethics are directly related to their work, they are attracted willingly and enjoy being the bearer of the company’s policies and corporate culture.

In addition to the general training section that applies to all employees, it is necessary to develop special modules that focus on their particular responsibilities. For example, for the accounting staff – proper reporting, preparation and maintenance of the financial statements; for the sales department employees – acceptable and unacceptable costs for doing business; or special training course for the administrative and technical staff on elaboration of  expenditure reporting of the company’s management.

These ideas are about making the compliance lesson more interesting. The opportunity to engage external experts may also be considered in order to make the course more effective.

All employees should undergo basic core trainings (e.g. prevention of discrimination and harassment, ensuring job safety in the workplace), including anti-corruption trainings in areas such as conflicts of interest, gift policy and behavior.

What is Anti-Corruption Compliance?

Commercial corruption occurs as a result of dishonest deals between the state officials or companies. Anti-corruption compliance means the transfer of global anti-corruption principles and standards as well as national laws to local practice as every country in the world has national legislation envisaging criminal liability for corruption.

Anti-Corruption Compliance Program should be an integral part of the company’s most complex infrastructure.

Source: Anti-Corruption Compliance: A Guide to Mid-Sized Companies in Emerging Markets.

This material has been prepared in the scope of the “Armenia: Promoting Anti-Corruption Conduct and Reforms” Project implemented by the “Center for International Private Enterprise”, the “Armenian Lawyers’ Association” NGO, the “Corporate Governance Center” NGO and the “Yerevan Chamber of Commerce and Industry” with financial support of the National Endowment for Democracy. The project is implemented as a co-financing to the “Commitment to Constructive Dialogue” action implemented with the financial support of the European Union by a Consortium comprising the “Armenian Lawyers’ Association” NGO, the “Armenian Center for Democratic Education-CIVITAS” NGO, the “International Center for Human Development” NGO, the “SME Cooperation Association” NGO, the Union of Communities of Armenia, as well as “Agora Central Europe” NGO (Czech Republic). The contents of this material are the sole responsibility of the “Armenian Lawyers’ Association” NGO and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the National Endowment for Democracy and the European Union.