Source: oznamovatelia.sk
The new Whistleblower Protection Office (WPO) in Slovakia has launched a nation-wide whistleblowing campaign to mark the institution’s one year anniversary.
In its first year of operation, the WPO has been approached by 300 individuals seeking advice or looking to report concerns. Seventeen whistleblowers have been granted official protection. According to the procedure, these individuals cannot be terminated or reassigned without approval from WPO.
To highlight the benefits of speaking up the WPO is highlighting positive stories of whistleblowing. This includes the launch of its first episode of its Neumlฤanรญ podcast, as well as a national communications campaign video โ With Corruption, Not Being Silent is Gold funded by the Recovery and Resilience Plan. A guide for employers on setting up internal whistleblowing arrangements has also been published.
Slovakia is delayed in transposing the EU Directive on Whistleblowing which should have been fully implemented by all EU Member States by 17 December 2021. Infringement proceedings have been initiated by the EU Commission.