Source: vlada.cz
A draft Bill on the protection of whistleblowers to transpose the EU Directive on Whistleblowing was scheduled for ‘general debate’ during the 87th meeting of the Chamber of Deputies, but was not heard. This is the first stage of the legislative process necessary to progress the legislation. As the Draft was not discussed, unfortunately the future timeline for adopting the law is now uncertain.
The Czech Republic had recently been considered as the only EU Member State to make ‘substantive progress’ in a recent progress report after the Ministry of Justice prepared a well-designed Draft law recently approved by the Government and presented to the Chamber of Deputies on 09 February 2021. Following the delay, it now remains ‘parked’ at this preliminary state as shown by the legislative process infographic.
The length of the legislative process averages 9 months in the Chamber of Deputies. There is a substantial number of draft Bills awaiting debate and approval before the upcoming elections in early October. Drafts are listed on the agenda of the Chamber of Deputies and are guided by the priorities of governmental parties which have not to date supported their own proposal on whistleblowing.
NGO Oživení is monitoring the process. The question now for civil society is whether work achieved so far be completely wasted? Political parties will need to be convinced to discuss the Draft as a priority after the Autumn elections – whether they do so remains yet unknown.
The deadline for transposition of the Directive is 17 December 2021. Failure to adopt Czech law represents a great legal uncertainty for whistleblowers, employers and other stakeholders, as the Directive will remain only partially implemented.