Protection for Whistleblowers

11月6日の日経新聞によると、企業や官公庁の不正を告発した内部通報者への解雇や懲戒といった不利益処分に対し、消費者庁が刑事罰を導入する方針とのことです。「報復人事」を恐れて不正通報をためらうケースは少なくないことから、通報者を保護し、公益通報制度の実効性を高めたいという意向のようです。

【English】

Consumer Affairs Agency is considering implementing criminal penalties for organizations and government agencies that retaliate against employees who report misconduct. This proposal aims to protect whistleblowers who risk their positions and reputations to report unethical or illegal behavior within their organizations.

Employees who witness misconduct may hesitate to report it if they fear retaliation, such as unjust transfers or demotions. Without adequate protections, this fear often leads to silence, allowing serious misconduct to go unaddressed.

Establishing a framework that enables employees to safely and confidently report wrongdoing is essential for maintaining transparency and accountability within organizations.

Introducing punitive measures against organizations that punish whistleblowers would be a significant step toward creating a secure environment for internal reporting. This approach would encourage employees to speak up without fearing personal or professional repercussions, ultimately supporting ethical practices and fostering trust within both public and private sectors.

Establishing robust protection mechanisms for whistleblowers is crucial for ensuring that misconduct is promptly and effectively addressed, benefiting both the organization and society as a whole.

【本日の英語表現】

▣ whistleblower 　　　内部告発者

▣ speak up 　　　　　声を上げる
We want to foster an environment where everyone feels free to speak up without fear of being dismissed.