As the business climate changes rapidly, corporate integrity assumes greater importance and is emerging as a key differentiator for companies. It is no longer a matter of choice for a company, but a non-negotiable imperative. CII recognized the importance of corporate integrity years ago and had taken several initiatives to address the issue of corruption. Interestingly, as far back as in 1996, CII had constituted the National Committee on Corporate Governance to formulate a Code of Corporate Governance and encouraged industry to adopt it on a voluntary basis.
Over the years, CII has brought out several Codes that act as guides for companies across critical areas such as the CII Code of Ethics, the Charter of Good Practices for Industrial Relations; Code of Conduct for Affirmative Action, to name a few. Beyond compliances, CII is working towards developing guidelines for good corporate citizenship.
This issue of Policy Watch looks at the ways in which corporate integrity and good citizenship can be taken to the industry at large in areas such as environment, industrial relations, beyond what is required by the law.