Romania Enacts Whistleblower Protection Law: Companies Must Comply by December 17

As of December 17, 2023, Romanian companies with over 50 employees or an annual turnover of more than EUR 10 million are required to implement the new whistleblower protection law. This legislation aims to protect employees, suppliers, and customers who report breaches or actions that violate the law and/or a company’s code of conduct from negative consequences.

What is Whistleblowing?

The law defines whistleblowing as reporting breaches aimed at protecting the public interest, including situations that jeopardize:

Network security
Violate data protection rules
Compromise environmental safety
Public procurement
Public health
Animal health
Financial markets

Company Obligations

Under the new legislation, companies are obligated to establish an internal reporting channel through which employees, collaborators, or partners can report potential breaches anonymously. The reporting channel must meet the following conditions:

Easily accessible 24/7
Secure enough to protect the identity of the whistleblower
Allow both written and verbal reports

Consequences of Non-Compliance

Companies that fail to comply with the new law may face penalties, while individuals who make reports in good faith are protected from dismissal or other forms of discrimination. The law also applies to public institutions and authorities, as well as organizations such as:

Hospitals
Banking companies
Non-banking financial institutions

Solutions for Compliance

To help companies comply with the new legislation, Decalex offers a range of solutions, including:

Integrating a technological reporting system into existing infrastructure
Developing a bespoke solution
Outsourcing the reporting channel to a third-party provider

Decalex’s team of experts will analyze an organization’s specific needs and propose the most suitable solution.

Get in Touch

For more information on whistleblower services and solutions, please contact Decalex at office@decalex.ro.