Better protection of whistle-blowers

The Council of Ministers adopted last Wednesday the directive on whistle-blower protection at the Justice and Home Affairs Council in Luxembourg. The directive will guarantee a high level of protection for whistleblowers by establishing safe channels for reporting both within an organisation and to public authorities, setting EU-wide standards.

Enhanced whistleblower protection will raise the overall level of the protection of workers, in line with the aims of the European Pillar of Social Rights 19 and in particular its principles 5 (fair working conditions) and 7b (protection in case of dismissals). Providing a common high level of protection to people who acquire the information they report through their work-related activities (irrespective of their nature) and who run the risk of work-related retaliation will safeguard the rights of workers in the broadest sense. Such protection will be of particular relevance for those in precarious relationships, as well as, for those in cross-border situations.

For the full text of the proposed directive please click here.