News item | 07-07-2023 | 6:15 pm
This week, Minister Bruins Slot (Interior and Kingdom Relations) informed the House of Representatives about the progress of strengthening the position of whistleblowers. In a letter to the House of Representatives, she further elaborates the plans for a fund for legal and psychosocial support for whistleblowers. The minister also provides information on the status of follow-up legislation and further regulations. The minister also explains the plans for the campaign for a safe working and reporting climate.
In the letter, the minister explains the basic principles for the organization of psychosocial and legal support for whistleblowers. The reporter must be central to this and flexibility is required to be able to adjust the range of support. The minister has made proposals for the financing of support and the allocation of this support to reporters.
After the summer, the minister aims to have a proposal ready for the Order in Council (AMvB) that provides for the further regulations required to allow the provisions on anonymous reporting to take effect. The Order in Council will therefore enter into (internet) consultation. The proposal states how employees can anonymously report suspicions of misconduct to employers and what requirements persons must meet to whom reporters can turn.
The letter also discusses the progress of the campaign to promote a safe working and reporting climate among employers. For example, a network has been formed in which employers, the House for Whistleblowers and other organizations participate. Various activities and meetings were also organized to share knowledge and raise awareness of the importance of a safe working environment.
In her earlier letter to the Lower House of 8 May 2023 the minister reported that some provisions of the Whistleblower Protection Act have not yet entered into force, such as the provisions on the new supervision and sanctioning task of the Whistleblowers Authority. In the new letter, the minister states that a (legal) preliminary investigation is taking place into these tasks of the House for Whistleblowers. The results of this preliminary study will be available around 1 October.
Commission debate after the summer
On September 13, 2023, a Committee debate Whistleblowers planned by the Standing Committee on the Interior of the House of Representatives. The minister will then discuss the subjects that the minister has explained in the letter with the members of parliament. Read the letter to parliament on the website of the central government for more information.