Title: Lithuania’s New Whistleblowing Law: Bolstering Transparency and Accountability with Effective Reporting Systems
Lithuania’s New Whistleblowing Regulation
In the Baltic European country of Lithuania, a new law on the Protection of Whistleblowers, effective from January 1, 2019, reinforces transparency and accountability in both the public and private sectors. The legislation creates a safe environment for reporting suspected wrongdoings, providing protection against retaliation.
Key Features of the New Law
- Mandates companies to establish internal reporting channels for employees and third parties to report breaches.
- Requires anonymity and confidentiality to ensure protection for whistleblowers.
- Applies to public or municipal institutions, private companies with at least 50 employees, and specific sectors, irrespective of employee count.
Internal versus External Whistleblowing Solutions
Organizations face several considerations when choosing between an internal and external whistleblowing solution.
Internal Reporting Channels
- Allows companies to directly oversee the process, ensuring adherence to their values and protocols.
- May risk conflicts of interest and bias when senior management is implicated.
- Companies might lack the expertise to address complex cases efficiently.
External Reporting Solutions
- Offers an independent and impartial platform for reporting, minimizing potential internal bias.
- Ensures objective investigations by neutral third parties.
- External providers often bring more experience and expertise in managing complex cases.
The Importance of a Robust Whistleblowing System
The success of any whistleblowing system hinges on its effectiveness in protecting whistleblowers while ensuring the efficient and fair handling of reports.
Ecovis ProventusLaw: A Reliable External Whistleblowing Solution
ECOVIS ProventusLaw provides an outsourced whistleblowing system tailored to organizations. Our solution ensures compliance with the EU Whistleblower Directive, offering secure and confidential reporting channels and reducing internal bias. By entrusting us with handling reports, companies can streamline their processes and focus on their core activities while managing whistleblowing cases effectively. Learn more about our reliable whistleblowing solution here.