Whistleblower Protection Laws in Bulgaria Take Major Step Forward with New Legislation
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Sofia, Bulgaria - January 27th marked a significant milestone in Bulgaria’s efforts to combat corruption as the country passed a Whistleblower Protection Act. This new law will come into full effect by December 17th this year and brings Bulgaria in line with the EU’s 2019 Whistleblowing Protection Directive.
Strengthening Anti-Corruption Efforts
The Basel Institute’s International Centre for Asset Recovery (ICAR) has been providing technical assistance to Bulgaria’s Commission for Protection of Personal Data (CPDP), the central external commission responsible for implementing the law. This collaboration is crucial in ensuring effective implementation and informing the public about the new law’s provisions and importance as an anti-corruption tool.
Multi-Stakeholder Roundtable Event
A recent roundtable event held on April 28th in Sofia brought together over 100 participants from the public and private sectors, media, and civil society. The event aimed to increase understanding of the law and its implications. ICAR’s Team Lead in Bulgaria, Renne Traicova, presented findings from a recent public opinion survey highlighting corruption as the second most named problem in Bulgaria.
Unanimous Passing
The unanimous passing of the law by Bulgaria’s Parliament is a significant achievement considering the country’s political volatility and frequent changes in government. The law’s development involved collaboration between former Minister of Justice Nadezhda Yordanova and caretaker Minister Krum Zarkov, as well as input from ICAR specialists and international expert Stephen M. Kohn.
Key Provisions
The Whistleblower Protection Act requires employers in the public and private sectors to establish internal channels for whistleblowing reports. The law also designates the CPDP as the central body to process external reports and forward them to relevant authorities.
- Employers with 50 or more employees are obliged to set up their own reporting channels.
- Municipalities with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants can share resources with other municipalities.
Protection Against Retaliation
The law provides whistleblower protection against retaliation, including: + Dismissal + Demotion + Disciplinary action + Early termination + Contract cancellation
Anyone who retaliates or initiates proceedings against a whistleblower with the sole intention of harming them will face fines ranging from BGN 2,000 to 8,000 (approximately EUR 1,022-4,090).
Ongoing Partnership
ICAR looks forward to continuing its partnership with CPDP on implementing the new law and providing additional local and international expertise. The Basel Institute extends gratitude to all partners involved in the roundtable event and acknowledges the ongoing support of USAID, Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD), and core donors.