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  • Responsible Business Conduct Matters : Promoting a culture of anti-corruption across global value chains

6 Aug 2025 •

Responsible Business Conduct Matters : Promoting a culture of anti-corruption across global value chains

Background

In the wake of cross-border expansion and globalisation, multinational enterprises (MNEs) operating from multiple jurisdictions are more than ever faced with heightened risks of corruption across their supply or value chains. Recognising that the most common form of corruption is bribery, adverse impacts from business operations may also result directly or indirectly from illicit activities such as fraud, favouritism, extortion and such other practices that may compromise integrity across both private and public sectors. In this respect, the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct (OECD MNE Guidelines) promotes global practices and recommendations with the aim of encouraging MNEs to implement an anti-corruption culture across their value chains in a number of respects.

OECD MNE Guidelines and Anti-Corruption

In Chapter VII on Combatting Bribery, Bribe Solicitation, and Extortion, the OECD MNE Guidelines recognise that corruption undermines democracy, weakens corporate governance and adversely impacts communities. The OECD MNE Guidelines have also been updated to inter alia include a wider scope of corruption under Chapter VII such as trading in influence, embezzlement and the misuse of sponsorships and donations and call for expanded due diligence recommendations in these areas. In addition, the updates to the OECD MNE Guidelines clarify that corruption also involve public officials or employees of entities with which a company has a business relationship.

Enterprises are therefore expected to address risks arising from all forms of corruption in relation to their business operations. From a practical perspective, the OECD MNE Guidelines recommend that companies –

  • carry out due diligence on corruption matters as part of their corruption prevention and detection strategies;

  • restrain from directly engaging in corruption or indirectly through third-party involvement;

  • actively promote dialogue with civil society and other stakeholders to enhance the formulation and adoption of anti-corruption policies.

  • instill a culture of anti-corruption and integrity facilitated by a top-down management approach;

  • promote awareness among employees on policies to prevent corruption; and

  • disclose cases of corruption as well as measures taken to address corruption issues.

 

How can National Contact Point Mauritius help?

Preventing corruption is critical across value chains to safeguard human rights, labour rights, and environmental and consumer standards at all times. Countries that have adhered to the OECD MNE Guidelines are required to have a National Contact Point for Responsible Business Conduct. NCP Mauritius is responsible for promoting the OECD MNE Guidelines and handling specific instances of non-compliance with the provisions of the OECD MNE Guidelines through a non-judicial process. Should you have any queries on the OECD MNE Guidelines, or the implications, you may contact the NCP Mauritius on secretariat@ncpmauritius.mu

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