SMEs and the fight against corruption

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are very often solicited for "extra payments" from the lower ranks of bureaucracy and potential buy ers of their goods and services.  They often feel cornered and do not know what to do.

They know that:
- it would be easy for the buyer to find an alternative source of supply;
- they are too small to be heard by top-management of the buyers company;
- they lack the legal expertise and management resources to file a complaint;
- they are too small to be heard by politicians and other authorities. 

ICC's Commission on Anti-Corruption is currently exploring ways to assist SMEs in addressing anti-corruption issues and compliance procedures.

A chapter of the ICC publication Fighting Corruption: A Corporate Practices Manual is especially dedicated to the problems faced by SMEs. It provides guidance to SMEs for developing anti-bribery compliance programmes with limited time and resources.