Bribery Practices of Three MNCs in the Host Countries: An Examination of the Issue from HRM Perspective

Abstract

This chapter examines three bribery cases of three different Multinational Corporations in three different countries from human resource management (HRM) perspective. The first case is about the bribery of Halliburton Energy Services of the USA in Nigeria, the second one is about the bribery of Scancem International ANS of Norway in Ghana and the third one is about the bribery of Niko Resources Ltd. of Canada in Bangladesh. The MNCs were involved in the bribery through their subsidiaries in the host countries. The top management of the MNCs and subsidiaries were involved in the bribery case. The cases show that the bribes were paid for protecting the interests of the subsidiaries in the host countries. The bribes were paid through some intermediaries and disguised in some ways. In examining the cases from HRM perspective, I looked at the relevant facts about the country and its government, the relevant facts about the MNCs and involved personnel(s), the relevant information about the case, the enablers of unethical behaviour and the HR lacunae in the case.