It is Cosmo’s overarching policy to conduct our business ethically and in a free and fair marketplace. Any contradictory action by any employee, contractor or third party acting on our behalf, will not be tolerated.x
Doing Business Free from Corrupt Activities
Cosmo takes a strict stance against corrupt activities and relies on its employees to also respect all anti-corruption laws applicable to them. To ensure this, it is imperative that all of Cosmos personnel:
- Are upfront about what it is they are doing. Cosmo relies on its employees to ensure that they can comfortably justify any expenses they have made. Employees are required to record all payments and expenditures appropriately.
- Understand that attempting to influence individuals in positions of authority by offering something of value in return, is prohibited.
- Comply with all of Cosmo’s policies and procedures and to be well-versed on local anti-bribery and corruption laws.
- Understand that the onus is on them when they are engaging with third parties acting on Cosmo’s behalf, to ensure they adhere to our policies and procedures as well as with local anti-bribery and corruption laws.
Protecting Fair Competition
Cosmo does not allow any practice that could be perceived to manipulate the markets in which it operates. We promote and encourage a free and fair market.
Competition is essential in providing the best products to the market. The free and fair market which Cosmo strives to operate in, is protected by robust competition laws.
Cosmo prohibits:
- fixing prices with competitors; and
- agreeing to divide markets, territories or customers with competitors;
As part of Cosmo’s policy, Employees are required to:
- Keep Cosmo’s sensitive information confidential and to not disclose any private information with competitors.
- Disagree with any competitor wishing to fix prices, restrict output or boycott certain suppliers, customers or distributors.
- Refuse to coordinate with competitors to divide markets, customers or territories. Cosmo’s employees respect the importance of a free and fair market.
Gathering Competitive Intelligence
Integrity in business is a core objective of Cosmo. The information we gather must be obtained ethically. Any concerning or suspicious information in which may have been obtained inappropriately should not be accepted.
At Cosmo, Employees are instructed to:
- Review Cosmo’s policies and procedures in appropriate ways to research and gather information.
- Utilise publicly available information on competitors from the internet and published media content.
- Avoid engagement in underhanded tactics to obtain information.
Fair Treatment of Suppliers and Procurement
At Cosmo, we aspire to the highest standards and level of integrity in the way we conduct our business. All business is carried out responsibly and ethically with our customers, vendors and suppliers. The variety of suppliers is of core importance to Cosmo as we believe that commerciality is the key factor in the maintenance of our relationships.
As part of Cosmo’s policy, all employees are:
- Made aware that commercial considerations must be at the core of all decisions made when dealing with suppliers. Employees are mindful of this and of our objective to treat our suppliers fairly and ethically.
- Encouraged to build relationships with Cosmo’s suppliers and to ensure they protect our sensitive information and physical assets.
- In accordance with Cosmo’s policies and procedures, discouraged to seek out or accept anything of value that could be perceived as a bribe.
- Inspired to be fair and to not deliberately take advantage of others.
Protecting Privacy and Personal Information
It is of utmost importance and critical to our business that we maintain sensitive information securely. This extends to the personal information we collect.
As part of Cosmo’s approach, all employees are directed to:
- Only collect personal information that is required and in which consent has been provided by the individual it concerns.
- Familiarise and keep up to date with Cosmo’s policies and procedures and all applicable laws.
- Report any breaches immediately
- Be respectful of the sensitive nature and confidentiality of the data being collected.
The laws of the countries where Cosmo does business require us to protect and secure the personal information of others that we collect or control. These laws are meant to protect the personal data entrusted to us and generally require that we do the following:
- Give notice that we are collecting personal information and explain how and why we use it.
- Provide choices about its collection, use and disclosure.
- Provide access to individuals so their personal information can be corrected, amended or deleted upon request.
- Maintain the integrity of the information so it is reliable for its intended use and we retain it only for as long as it is needed.
- Limit access to and disclosure of the information to third parties.
- Use appropriate security safeguards to protect it.
- Provide the means for individuals to ask questions or register complaints about how we handle their personal information.