Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE Confederation of Tanzania Industries (CTI) has developed a code of conduct to facilitate the improvement of the business environment in the country and assist Tanzanian’s industrial competitiveness in the regional and global market.
This was revealed in Dar es Salaam yesterday at a sensitization workshop on the Code of Conduct organized by the CTI, which brought together the first batch of members of the Confederation.
The CTI Chairman, Mr Paul Makanza, said that the code is enforceable and binding to all members and their employees and called on the members to be ethical to avoid being sanctioned not only by the confederation but also the government.
“Being ethical when conducting business saves a lot. For example, there are consequences, including many fines if you break the laws of the land. Therefore, having this code of conduct is like having a self-assessment, which is very important,” the CTI Chairman said.
He pointed out further that after the sensitization workshops that would be conducted all over the country all members of the CTI would later be called upon to accept and subscribe to the Code by signing prescribed attestation form and cause it to be read, understood and accepted by employees.
“The Code shall be executed and enforced by the Governing Council of CTI. Each member shall be obliged to ensure compliance with the Code and provide the necessary cooperation to CTI and fellow members in ensuring its enforcement,” Mr Makanza said.
According to the Code of Conduct, the Governing Council of CTI may impose some sanctions, including the provision of warning, censure or suspension to its members for violating the Code. The Code sets the business ethical standards for members and general principles for ethical business conduct.
It also outlines a common business-ethical framework within which all members must act, sets minimum standards of behaviour and formalizes expectations and is a trustworthy basis for collaboration among business entities.
Furthermore, the Code meets global requirements and ensures integrity and sustainable business practice and enforces compliant, reliable and trustworthy business partnerships.
Presenting a topic at the workshop, an independent consultant, Mr Khalid Swabili, took the members through two modes under which business is conducted in the world between the government and private sector, which include Anglo-Saxon Modal and Continental System.
He told the participants that Anglo-Saxon is a modal used in Tanzania where it is optional for the company to join or not to join any industrial association. But, according to Mr Swabili, in this system, there is no law that requires the government to dialogue with the private sector.
“There is no mandatory requirement for public-private dialogue. So the government can regulate the private sector anyhow even without consultation and the consultation by the private sector is a matter of favour by the government, as there is not any requirement to have such consultation,” he said.
While under the Continental Approach, it is mandatory for any business to belong at least in one industrial association.
“Under this system, you cannot get a business license if you cannot provide proof that you’re a member of an industrial association,” he said.
