Corporate and industry bodies are all set to get lessons on competition issues with the Competition Commission of India (CCI) chalking out a model compliance programme for them. The CCI has been aggressively working towards sensitising corporates and the industry as well as various government departments on various issues relating to competition laws.
CCI member Vinod Dhall told FE the regulator was working on model compliance programmes that could be followed by individual companies as well as industry bodies and associations.
He, however, said the model would not be made mandatory for corporates.
There are similar programmes in Thailand, he said, adding CCI was looking at similar programmes and practices in other countries as well. Computer giant Intel too has launched a similar programme, he pointed out.
Elaborating possible model programmes for sectoral associations and industry chambers, Dhall said it could include a lesson on avoidable industrial practices. ?For example, they can voluntarily declare that discussions on pricing, customers, tenders or common approach to discounts will never be on their agenda,? he said.
He said the main brief of the programme would be to make various stakeholders understand how they could adhere to competition laws and avoid forming cartels. On programmes for companies, he said these would include approaches to sensitise the staff on competition laws and matters, primarily departments like marketing, purchase and procurement. ?Also, they would be told about the possible negative repercussions of violation of competition laws like penalties and loss of reputation,? Dhall said.
The CCI is planning to come out with specific programmes in consultation with the Institute of Company Secretaries of India. ?While company secretaries are responsible for maintaining corporate governance internally, this programme would help maintain it externally to make them responsible corporates,? Dhall said.