The Whistleblower Protection Act came into force in July. It is intended to help people report grievances in companies, for example, and protect them from reprisals. So far, the federal reporting office has received a total of 113 tips.
Since the so-called whistleblower law came into force, the federal government’s newly created external reporting office has received more than 100 reports. As a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Justice announced, the reporting office at the Federal Office of Justice received a total of 113 reports from the beginning of July to September 12th.
According to the information, most of these were received via an online form. The spokeswoman said that the reporting office’s advisory services were also widely used. She also pointed out that the federal government’s external reporting office maintains regular professional exchanges with the whistleblower offices of the Federal Cartel Office and the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority.
The Whistleblower Protection Act came into force on July 2nd. It is intended to protect people who expose abuses from dismissal and harassment. Authorities and companies must create contact points that receive reports of fraud, corruption or violations of animal welfare or environmental protection rules.
Fines of up to 50,000 euros for violations
With the law, a corresponding EU directive was implemented late. According to the law, authorities and companies with more than 50 employees must create contact points that confidentially receive and process reports from whistleblowers. Anyone who violates the law faces a fine of up to 50,000 euros. In addition, the external reporting office at the Federal Office of Justice was created.
The law allows whistleblowers to decide whether they report violations internally or externally. According to the Federal Ministry of Justice, it has no information on the number of reports received by internal reporting offices from companies and authorities since the law came into force. Companies with up to 249 employees have until December 17, 2023 to set up internal reporting points.