Source: 23/05/2024
A Bill on whistleblower protection, intended to transpose the EU Directive on whistleblowing, is progressing through Parliament. The Sejm (the lower chamber of the Polish Parliament) adopted the bill, proposed by the Government, on May 23, 2024, with several clarifying amendments.
Key changes include allowing employer companies within a capital group to establish a common internal reporting procedure, provided it complies with the Act. However, it remains unclear whether a parent company may follow up or conduct further investigations, as the Act stipulates that an external body can only play a supporting role by receiving internal reports.
The Senate (the upper chamber of the Polish Parliament) adopted the Act on June 14, 2024, introducing further amendments, including the exclusion of breaches of labor law from the material scope of protection—a change advocated by employer associations.
The bill now returns to the Sejm, which may accept or reject the Senate’s amendments. If approved, President Andrzej Duda will sign the law, and it will be promulgated in the Polish Official Journal.
The new Act will come into effect three months after promulgation, except for the external reporting rules regarding competent authorities, which have an additional six months to be fully implemented.