Business Ethics & Governance

Driving Governance & Risk

Driving Governance & Risk

Business Ethics & Governance

In line with our vision to become The Next Generation Digital Champion, we take a vigilant stance against all forms of bribery, corruption and anti-competitive practices across our business presence. At the same time, we commit to practicing full tax transparency and to safeguarding the human rights and freedom of expression of our employees and other stakeholders.

Our approach is underpinned by our core values of Uncompromising Integrity, Exceptional Performance (UI.EP), which are embedded in our business operations and our supply chain activities. Translating this into practice, we aim to foster a winning culture that is based on integrity, ethics and compliance through mandatory trainings and awareness programmes, with the goal of achieving above 90% training completion every year for Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption (ABAC), Whistleblowing, Data Privacy and Cyber Security.

Outlook

As a leading telco company in the ASEAN and South Asia region, we are committed to conducting our business responsibly amid the evolving regulatory landscape. We remain guided by our robust policies and procedures and will continue to advocate good business ethics in our supply chain. We will continue to step up our measures in strengthening the culture of compliance and integrity in our business operations to ensure that our customers’ trust and shareholders’ interests are upheld.

Developing Stringent Policies

In seeking to enshrine responsible business practices and continuous compliance across the Group, we have established the following policies and frameworks that apply to all Axiata employees.

Code of Conduct

Revised in 2021, the code sets out specific rules and guidelines that govern how employees should act for or on behalf of the Group

Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Framework

Sets out best practices in enterprise risk management, covering the anticipation of risks, assessment of risks, integration of risk management in decision-making, and communication on risk

Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption (ABAC) Policy

Sets out specific rules and guidelines that govern how stakeholders should act for or on behalf of the Group, in line with our zero-tolerance approach to bribery and corruption

Gifts, Donations and Sponsorships (GDS) Policy

Establishes principles for evaluating the appropriateness of giving or receiving GDS that could be construed as corrupt or unethical, with stringent processes put in place to govern exceptions to the policy

Whistleblowing / Speaking Up Policy

Provides a channel for all employees and stakeholders to anonymously report any observed or suspected fraud, corruption or other unethical practices, with the channel managed by an independent third-party service provider

Code of Conduct

Revised in 2021, the code sets out specific rules and guidelines that govern how employees should act for or on behalf of the Group

Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Framework

Sets out best practices in enterprise risk management, covering the anticipation of risks, assessment of risks, integration of risk management in decision-making, and communication on risk

Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption (ABAC) Policy

Sets out specific rules and guidelines that govern how stakeholders should act for or on behalf of the Group, in line with our zero-tolerance approach to bribery and corruption

Gifts, Donations and Sponsorships (GDS) Policy

Whistleblowing / Speaking Up Policy

Preventing All Forms Of Bribery And Corruption

We maintain a zero-tolerance stance towards all forms of bribery and corruption, and require that all our stakeholders avoid any activity that might constitute, lead to or be perceived as bribery, corruption or a breach of other laws and regulations. Further to this, stakeholders are responsible for reporting any form of bribery or corruption that they detect or suspect in the course of their relationship with the Group.

Our stringent stance is supported by our revised Code of Conduct and our ABAC Policy – detailing specific procedures for stakeholders to follow – while we also undertake a range of due diligence practices to ensure that our controls are relevant and up to date.

Empowering Our Stakeholders To Raise Concerns

Our Speak Up channel is an anonymous ethics and fraud whistleblowing channel open to all stakeholders and is managed by an independent third-party service provider under the supervision of Group Internal Audit (GIA).

Through this anonymous channel, all stakeholders may be assured that their identity will be protected when raising concerns of any observed or suspected misconduct. Further information on the channel and our Whistleblowing / Speaking Up Policy may be found here.

Managing Human Rights Risks

Beyond compliance with all local laws in our operating markets, we maintain a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of human rights violations including modern slavery, forced labour and child labour. Reflecting our commitment to human rights, we became a signatory to the UN Global Compact (UNGC) in November 2022, pledging to adopt and incorporate the 10 Principles within our business, operations and culture.

In driving a focused approach to this important issue, we have identified the following key human rights risks that are relevant to our stakeholder groups:

Customers

Artificial Intelligence and Big Data analytics
Privacy and freedom of expression
Online safety

Workforce

Freedom of association and collective bargaining
Non-discrimination
Fair remuneration
Forced labour

Suppliers

Child labour
Forced labour
Conflict mineral standards

Community

Community impacts from building and maintaining structure

Customers

Artificial Intelligence and Big Data analytics
Privacy and freedom of expression
Online safety

Workforce

Freedom of association and collective bargaining
Non-discrimination
Fair remuneration
Forced labour

Suppliers

Child labour
Forced labour
Conflict mineral
standards

Community

Community impacts from building and maintaining structure

Embedding Risk Management At All Levels

Cognisant of our fast-evolving operating environment, we strive to integrate risk management as a core consideration in all decision-making processes and to continually enhance our processes in anticipating and assessing potential risks. Guided by our ERM Policy and Framework, this approach enables us to proactively develop strategies that mitigate risks before they become an actuality. Axiata has adopted its risk management approach based on ISO31000:2018 and has tailored the guidelines to fit the Group’s business operations.

Practising Full Tax Transparency

Axiata acknowledges the importance of taxation and contributes direct and indirect taxes as well as fees to the economies, nation building and socioeconomic development of all the countries where we operate.

Our approach to taxation is outlined in the Axiata Group Policies – Taxation chapter of our Sustainability and National Contribution Report 2022, establishing the policies related to the Group’s and our OpCos’ tax affairs in order to properly address and comply with relevant tax laws, regulations and tax management. Supplementing the policy, thresholds for decision-making are guided by the Group’s and our OpCos’ Limit of Authority.

We are committed to operating our businesses in compliance with the relevant tax law of the respective countries in which we operate, and to acting responsibly to society by paying the fair share of taxes and meeting our obligations to our shareholders.

For full details on our tax governance, control and risk management, and our approach to engagement with tax authorities, please refer to the Tax Transparency section in our Sustainability and National Contribution Report 2022.

For full details on our tax contributions in 2022, please refer to the National Contribution section of this website and our Group Audited Financial Statements 2022.

SUSTAINABILITY