Abiding by the Law: The member, individual, company or organisation will at all times comply with the letter and spirit of all the laws and regulations of the Government of Jamaica and any other properly constituted authority as are applicable to its business or its affairs. As required by law, all registered operating business must be tax compliant.
Improper Inducements: The member, company or organisation shall not provide improper inducements, favour or benefits directly or indirectly, in cash or kind, to any person with the intent of gaining advantage. Neither, should the member accept improper inducements, favours or benefits directly or indirectly, in cash or in kind, with the intent of enabling other persons to gain advantage.
Conflict of Interest: The member, company or organisation should implement policies that will avoid conflicts between the interest of directors, managers and staff and those of the company.
Free Competition: The member, company or organisation considers free and fair competition to be the basis of the free market economic system to which we subscribe. We should not seek to distort market conditions in order to reduce the competitive process.
No Discrimination: The member, company or organisation in all its dealings with individuals and other businesses should avoid discrimination on the basis of race, ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, marital status, or membership in any lawful organisation.
Political Contributions: The member, company or organisation should make political contributions as it sees fit, but at all times these contributions should be an expression of a responsible citizen and not to purchase favours or improper advantage.
Privacy and Privileged Information: The member, company or organisation may become privy to certain confidential information about its clients in the course of providing its goods or services. We must carefully preserve the confidentiality of the business relationship, divulging only such information about the affairs of the clients as may ordinarily be public information, be required by law or authorized by the client.Similarly, the privacy rights of employees must be respected.
Environmental Responsibility: The member, company or organisation must protect the environment by ensuring that its activities do not contribute to its degradation.
Scope and Purpose: All members, companies or organisations of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce should regard the provisions of this Code as mandatory.Further to this it should be made part of the conditions of employment. This should apply to all the directors, management and staff of the company or organisation. This Code of Ethics will help to define the company’s or organisation’s ethical standards and so its public and private image.
Ultimately, the ethical conduct of the affairs of a business will be dependent on the actions of all employees (directors, management and staff), as these actions will express the ethics that the businesses practice. The adoption of the Code of Ethics should have as its main aims:
(1) The creation of an ethical environment in which to conduct business.
(2) The prevention or elimination of corruption.
It is hoped that if the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce adopts the provisions of this Code, these standards will become the norm rather than the exception.This will result in the reduction of corrupt practices and the isolation of those who continue to act in an unethical and corrupt manner. The intention of the Code of Ethics is to raise the moral and ethical standards by which business is conducted at all levels throughout Jamaica.
