One of the more unusual risk components in global supply chain management involves the language of bribery. And, with fines and penalties for violations of anticorruption laws skyrocketing, feedback from our reader’s comments and following this topic on Google global alerts, our staff has found that multinational companies are applying many of their resources into the pursuit of anticorruption compliance.
In a recent article written by James G. Tillen and Sonia M. Delman, posted on the Forbes website, and entitled “A Bribe by Any Other Name”, we find the two dynamics mentioned above explained in a very easy to understand way with many examples offered to clarify their message, and as such, may be a valuable reading resource for global supply chain risk managers.
Although the article written by Tillen and Delman is somewhat dated in time, our staff believes it remains relevant today and should be an incentive for multinational companies to review this area of supply chain management risk on a regular basis.
Below you will find a short summary of a list of common bribery jargon used in certain countries. Be sure to review the complete list when reading this full article:
| Country/Language | Bribery Jargon |
| Argentina | cohecho; soborno; coima; cometa |
| Angola | gaseoso |
| Brazil | propina; jetto; jetinho; caixinha; graxa; troco; nota; acerto |
| Bulgaria | rusvet |
| Cambodia | tea money |
| China | huilu; chaqian |
| Croatia | mitto; podmititi (v.) |
| East Africa | chai |
| Egypt | baksheesh; shay |
| France | pot-de-vin; arroser (v.); graisser (v.) |
| Gambia | maslaha |
| Germany | shmiergeld |
| Greece | bakssissi |
| Hausa (spoken in West Africa) | toshiyar-baki |
| Honduras | pajada |
| Hong Kong | hactzien |
| Hungary | megvesztegetes; kezet fogni (v.); keno penz; csuszo penz; lekenyerezni; lefizetni |
| India | rishwat; baksheesh; ghoos; hafta; chai-pani |
| Indonesia | suap; pungli; uang sogok |
| Iran | roshveh |
| Italy | tangento; omaggi; spintarella; bustarella |
| Japan | on; wairo; kuroi kiri |
Click here to read the full article by Tillen and Delman.
If applicable, please pass this information along to those business continuity and PS-Prep strategy planning global supply chain team members in your organization.
Photo courtesy of gpnetnow.com
