Effective and ethical leadership

At Blue Label we believe that effective and ethical leadership is centred around integrity. It is about doing the right thing – being accountable, responsible, fair and transparent.

We recognise that ethical leadership within Blue Label improves public trust, enhances risk, compliance and ethics management, and strengthens stakeholder relations.

This is achieved through:

• Our key values:
  • Customer service orientation
  • Achievement and drive to succeed
  • Honesty and integrity
  • Enjoyment
  • Collaboration
• Leadership's commitment to uphold our key values; and
• The provision of mechanisms to report and manage unethical behaviour.

Blue Label's Social, Ethics and Transformation Committee is established in compliance with the Companies Act. It in turn elevates social and ethics matters to Board level. This ensures that ethics is treated as a matter of strategic importance.

The Social, Ethics and Transformation Committee maintains oversight of the ethics policies and applications within the Group and the Chairman of the Board sets the ethical tone for the Board as a whole. The main ethics items monitored and reported at the Social, Ethics and Transformation Committee include:

• The 10 United Nations Global compact principles
• Anti-fraud and corruption policies and procedures
• Consumer relations and compliance with consumer protection laws
• Environmental, health and public safety

Employees are expected to demonstrate ethical business practices at all times. All new staff members undergo an induction programme that includes training on the code of business conduct, including the function of the ethics hotline, such as what should be reported and how to report unethical behaviour via this channel.

The ethics hotline is outsourced to KPMG Ethics Line, a division of KPMG, and can be accessed on 0800 22 10 20. The ethics hotline is available to all stakeholders. No incidents were reported during the year ended 31 May 2019.

BLT has a zero tolerance towards fraud and irregularities. As a listed entity, Blue Label Telecoms is required to take reasonable steps to prevent any fraud against the Company as well as its stakeholders. All incidents of internal fraud and irregularities need to be disclosed and investigated irrespective of the amount involved. Any investigative activity required will be conducted without regard to the suspected wrongdoer's length of service, position, title or relationship to the Company.

Key provisions of the Group fraud policy include the following:

• Each employee of Blue Label Telecoms has an obligation to act in the best interests of the Company and must not let outside activities or outside financial interests interfere with those obligations.
• Employees must be open and transparent about all gifts and hospitality given or received and are required to disclose these. When a gift is considered lavish or extravagant, it could be construed to amount to a gratification which immediately places the organisation and individuals concerned at risk for being prosecuted for acts of corruption.
• The Company facilities, equipment, and personnel should only be used for the business's activities and purposes, except when other uses are specifically authorised by Blue Label Telecoms.
• Employees are required to always be mindful of what a payment is for and whether the amount requested is proportionate to the goods or services provided. Any suspicions, concerns or queries regarding a payment should be clarified.
• Employees must avoid any activity that might lead to, or suggest, that a facilitation payment or kickback will be made or accepted by us.

The ethics officer takes responsibility for managing the organisation's ethics programme. Ethics are managed by an accredited ethics officer who maintains a 'green level' supporter membership with The Ethics Institute. The ethics officer reports to the Ethics Committee on progress with the ethics management plan, and the state of ethics within the organisation.