FIEC, EIC show support for new anti-bribery standard

FIEC (the European Construction Industry Federation) and EIC (European International Contractors) have expressed their support for the publication of the new worldwide standard on anti-bribery management systems.

The standard has been published by the International Organisation for Standardisation (IOS) after it described bribery as “one of the world’s most destructive and challenging issues”.

It said that over US$1 trillion (€910 billion) is paid in bribes each year.

The standard specifies a series of measures to help organisations prevent, detect and address bribery. These include adopting an anti-bribery policy, appointing a person to oversee anti-bribery compliance, training, risk assessments and due diligence on projects and business associates.

Per Nielsen, FIEC and EIC representative, said, “Now that it is available for practical use, I do hope that contractors and clients alike see the big opportunity to introduce management systems which will reduce the risk of active and passive corruption considerably.

“In addition, forthcoming guidelines will have to clarify the need for moral and organisational reciprocity between clients and contractors as one of the necessary conditions for success in practice."