7
Over the years,
the Al Habtoor
Group management has always insisted
on integrity and ethical practices from its
employees. The Group does not tolerate
fraud or concealment of fraud. What’s
more, it refuses to accept unethical
behaviour constituting impropriety,
harassment or discrimination.
The Al Habtoor Group has long been
aware that in any business there’s
always the risk of fraud or other
malpractices occuring. It believes such
activities need to be identified and
eliminated at the outset for benefit of
the business and its employees.
In line with this policy and as part of its
corporate governance initiative, AHG
management in 2008 implemented a
‘whistleblowing service’ called ‘ Itisal Al
Nazahah’ where by employees across
the group could report any fraudulent or
unethical activities anonymously. It was
one of the first companies in the Middle
East to adopt this service.
While personality clashes, petty
arguments and general employee
grievances are not to be reported,
serious abuses which involve a genuine
level of injustice are. So for example
fraud, corrupt conduct, abuse of
company resources, nepotism and
favouritism can all be reported to an
unbiased third party.
The service provides a multi-channel
reporting mechanism so that employees
can speak in their first languages
like English, Arabic, Hindi, Urdu and
Malayalam. Also, the complainant does
not have to disclose his or her identity.
Hence there is no fear of retaliation.
Furthermore, the service is run by
a third party - KPMG which itself
ensures independence.
Until now the response to the
service has been very encouraging.
The National
newspaper in an article
titled
‘Corruption fight takes front
seat’
published on 29 May 2012
praised the Al Habtoor Group for
being one of the first companies in
the Middle East to implement this
service.
The Al Habtoor Group encourages
all its employees to make use of the
service by reporting for any actual
or suspected fraudulent or unethical
activities.
The service provides the following
reporting channels:
• Toll free number : 800 50 37283
(8.30am to 6.30pm)
• Secure Fax number : 06 5170 979
• Secure E-mail address :
• Secure Post Box address : PO Box
346038, Dubai & PO Box 28653,
Sharjah
• Website:www.itisalalnazahah.com
[Login credentials: alhabtoor]
For any clarification on the service,
employees can contact the Al Habtoor
Group Internal Audit department (IA)
or visit:
and
read the FAQ section.
Additionally, IA has recently been
conducting awareness sessions along
with the service provider across the
group units.
The Whistleblower
Service of the
Al Habtoor Group
Itisal Al Nazahah
Whistleblowing
