The Code of Responsible Business (“Code”) represents the Association’s code of ethics, which promotes universal values and behaviors in accordance with those values, and which can be applied in all economic entities, regardless of size, industry and business sector. The goal of the Code is to contribute to transparent and responsible business operations of business entities that adhere to the Code, as well as further promotion of ethics, culture and compliance in business. In accordance with its goals and mission, the Association invites all interested economic entities to accept and respect the values defined by the Code. By joining the Code, business entities confirm that their business is in accordance with the Code, as well as their adherence to the Code’s values and ethical business principles, which they are obliged to respect and promote.
The Code is accessed on a voluntary basis, with a request for access to the Code, which every business entity interested in joining submits to the Association. The Management Board of the Association considers each application for joining the Code and decides on it based on the information it receives from the business entity, the applicant and from other relevant sources.
The association publicly publishes a list of business entities that respect the principles defined by the Code, as a type of informal certification of companies that operate in accordance with ethical standards. Business entities that have joined the Code can make publicly available information that they are on the list of business entities that respect the principles defined by the Code (eg on their website and/or in communication with their business partners, clients, etc.).
If the principles defined by the Code are not respected by the business entity at the time of submitting the application for joining the Code or after joining the Code, the Management Board of the Association can make a decision on additional verification of compliance with the principles of responsible business or removing the business entity from the list of business entities that respect the principles of the Code. This decision must be explained and communicated to the business entity before its deletion from the list of business entities that respect the principles defined by the Code.
Business entities that have joined the Code, but later stop behaving in accordance with one of its principles or do not respect several principles defined by the Code, are obliged to inform the Association about this change within a reasonable period, no longer than 30 days from the occurrence of the change, the consequence of which deviation from the behavior and principles defined by the Code.
Business entities that have acceded to the Code can at any time make a decision to withdraw, which they must inform the Association and other interested parties (in the event that they have made public or used information about compliance with the principles defined by the Code in communication with other persons and business entities). After receiving this information, the Association proceeds to delete the business entity from the list of business entities that respect the principles defined by the Code.
Accession to this Code does not affect the obligation of business entities to operate in accordance with the legal framework, laws and other regulations governing their operations. Also, joining the Code and respecting the principles defined by the Code does not absolve business entities and employees in business entities from respecting ethical codes, rules of conduct and other internal acts that define values, principles and desirable behaviors in a specific business entity.
