EU Whistleblowing Directive | The Need for Compliance
Before the introduction of the EU Whistleblowing Directive, whistleblowing protection varied considerably across the European Union.
That has changed.
It has been recognised that whistleblowers play a vital role in exposing and preventing bribery and corruption. Fraud and wrongdoing distort competition across the EU, increasing the costs of doing business, undermining the interests of investors and shareholders, and lowering the attractiveness for investments affecting the proper functioning of the European Union internal market.
Whistleblower Protection | The Main Requirements
Whistleblowers across the EU are now afforded a minimum level of protection thanks to the implementation of this EU Directive.
Under the Directive both public and private businesses and organisations with more than 50 employees are required to implement effective whistleblowing reporting channels and whistleblowing systems.
In the absence of effective internal reporting channels being available, whistleblowers should be enabled to report their concerns externally.
The Whistleblowing Directive also extends the whistle blower protection to trainees, volunteers and self-employed workers.
EU member countries have been given two years to formally introduce any new whistleblowing legislation through their own internal legislative bodies and have been encouraged to go further than the minimum levels of whistleblowing protection if deemed necessary.