Nasscom to work out policy for 'best practices'

Nasscom today announced that it will soon introduce a 'best practices' policy framework to streamline and standardise processes in the information technology-related services and business process outsourcing (ITeS-BPO) industry.

This will cover human resources, data security, people management, physical infrastructure, ethics and whistle-blowing. "Clients of ITeS-BPO industry are demanding quality in all aspects of services. If the Indian ITES-BPO industry has to continue to make a mark at the international level, processes have to be standardised. We will shortly come out with a policy framework addressing these issues," Nasscom president Kiran Karnik said.

The framework is being designed keeping in mind aspects of safety and security of employees, a code of ethics, corporate social responsibility and other industry initiatives. "All members will voluntarily adhere to this framework. We will bring out the policy in a brief format in a couple of months. The final version will take some more time as it will have to be evaluated by an independent body," Karnik explained.

Industry-wide HR management guidelines will be an integral aspect of the framework. "The aim is to create a set of guidelines that will help attract and retain talent. It will also address the issue of attrition to a large extent," said Genpact CEO Pramod Bhasin, who is chairperson of the Nasscom ITES-BPO Forum.

It will attempt to eliminate discrimination in hiring. "We want it to be a standard process where all get a fair chance. It will also have a code for those changing jobs within the industry," Bhasin said.