Stand for integrity
We’re committed to fair competition. In our efforts to succeed on the world’s markets, we aim to comply with all applicable laws and regulations. Ethical business conduct is a non-negotiable component of our corporate culture. We’ve formulated transparent and binding principles of behavior and taken a clear and unmistakable position in the battle against corruption. We also fulfill our responsibilities to society, the environment and our employees. For us, occupational safety, health management and the conservation of natural resources are all part of ethical business conduct.
Fair competition requires that all market participants play by the same rules. Everywhere in the world, we’ve entered into integrity pacts with our partners and competitors. As part of what we call collective action, customers and suppliers make a project-specific commitment to maintain transparency in the bidding process and abstain from bribery when competing for public-sector contracts.
In India alone, we’ve concluded around 40 integrity pacts with public-sector organizations since 2009. Following discussions with these customers and the NGO Transparency International India, integrity pacts are now included in bidding documents and will be required for future contract awards in the country.
In many parts of the world, we’re carrying the fight against corruption beyond the borders of our own industry. In the Czech Republic, for instance, we worked together with the American Chamber of Commerce to build a coalition for transparent business practices. And in Russia, we’re one of the companies that joined forces with the German Chamber of Commerce and the International Business Leaders Forum to launch the Corporate Ethics Initiative, whose declaration has now been signed by more than 90 enterprises.
With a budget of US$100 million, our Siemens Integrity Initiative will promote the development of fair competitive conditions over the next 15 years. The initiative finances NGOs worldwide that are committed to ethical business practices and the battle against corruption. In the first funding round, we’re supporting 31 projects in 20 countries. The beneficiaries include organizations like Brazil’s Instituto Ethos, which is dedicated to ensuring the transparency of infrastructure contract awards connected with the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil. In Europe, recipients of our support also include the newly established International Anti-Corruption Academy in Vienna, to which we’ve provided funding for anti-corruption research and education and for the training of anti-corruption experts. Further information on the Integrity Initiative and the settlement with the World Bank specifying the establishment of the Initiative is available in the Compliance report.
Creating fair markets, complying with legal regulations and fighting corruption worldwide – this is only one part of what we understand by integrity. For us, environmental protection, health management, occupational safety and clear, unambiguous requirements for suppliers and partners are also vital.
Ever since 1971, when we set up our environmental protection office, we’ve been expanding our worldwide environmental management activities and adapting them to ever-changing requirements. Our own environmental program defines clear targets for improving our performance in the areas of CO2 emissions, primary energy, district heating, water, waste and electrical power.
Environmental protection, occupational safety and health management are all covered in our Business Conduct Guidelines, which provide the basis for our employees’ behavior. Here, the guiding principle is to guarantee the health and safety of our employees and customers. We’re aware that some of our business activities harbor potential hazards for our people. That’s why we’ve established worldwide standards as well as decentralized programs geared to concrete local risks.
Adherence to clear principles of integrity: we expect this not only of our employees but also of our partners and suppliers. Our energy-efficiency programs and sustainability audits are just two examples of how we’re ensuring conformity with these principles. A binding Code of Conduct for Siemens suppliers provides the foundation for our partners’ integrity.
- www.siemens.com/sr/compliance
- www.siemens.com/integrity-initiative
- www.siemens.com/sr/environmental-protection
- www.siemens.com/sr/safety