Anti-corruption practices in Russian IT business

International business ethics

For many years occupying one of the leading positions in the IT market in Russia, ICL Services fairly and openly fights for customers by providing a high level of service, applying its experience and using international practices in providing IT services. Geography of ICL Services’ customers, which covers 26 countries, contributed to the formation of a uniform approach to the employees’ adherence to the anti-corruption legislation of Russia and other countries of presence, and today the anti-corruption activities are an important part of the corporate social responsibility policy.

The company developed its own binding anti-corruption policy which contains norms, principles, procedures for interaction with governmental bodies, political parties, and for charity activities.

Having reviewed international approaches to fighting illegal activity and guided by the experience of global partners, the company operates in accordance with the zero tolerance policy for bribery and corruption. The company appointed the Compliance Manager who is responsible for combating illegal practices and ensuring the functioning of corruption risk management and internal control system.

Absolutely fair competition

Anti-corruption policy of ICL Services is aimed at creating a corporate culture not only for its own employees, but also among partners. «Business must take a direct and active part in combating corruption and have a clear attitude to this issue,» Director of ICL Services Sergei Solovyov says.

Adherence to ethical rules by partners and suppliers has a direct impact on formation of a positive image of the company. For this reason in its communications with partners, suppliers and customers the ICL Services adheres to the principle of non-corruption and includes norms of the current anti-corruption legislation into its contracts.

The company annually conducts internal audit of suppliers with whom ICL Services has a right to do the business; the audit involves the criteria of quality and price, reputation, and ability to comply with all applicable legal requirements. We also expect our suppliers to work in accordance with the principles set out in the International Business Standards, a set of criteria for business and technology evaluation, used today by all players of the world market as a reference base for standardization.

Everyone should know

Corruption control means not only the ethical standards of interaction with customers and partners. It also includes personnel training with mandatory testing of knowledge of the anti-corruption policy and the internal rules of business ethics, which is held annually for all employees without exception.

«Preventive actions play an important role in our human resources development,» HR manager of ICL Services Alsu Glinskaya notes. «Upon hiring all employees get acquainted with the rules of business ethics and are trained under anti-corruption program which also includes testing, and are informed about ‘conflict of interests’ concept when an employee’s personal interest may influence his/her decision-making.»

In general, every employee of the company can inform the Compliance Manager about violations. At the corporate portal of ICL Services there is a dedicated section for notifications of activities with corruption component and other illegal practices of colleagues. In this case the anti-corruption policy guarantees the protection of employees against harassment and threats.

ICL Services understands that corporate corruption hinders the competent company management, entails substantial additional expenses for business, its customers and partners, and imposes a real threat to adherence to social responsibility. Therefore the anticorruption principles, according to which ICL Services conducts its business, are the core principle of the company, contributing to its successful development both on the international IT market and in Russia.