Voice-SD Lawmakers Seek Alignment of Whistleblowers Office Bill with EU Rules

Bratislava, 4 December (TASR) – Lawmakers from the coalition Voice-SD party want to align legislation on the office that will replace the Whistleblowers Protection Office (UOO) with the relevant EU directive, submitting an amending proposal. The amending proposal would no longer require that an employer should have the right to request a review of whistleblower protection, and it would also remove the condition that a whistleblower must have an employment relationship with the person whose conduct is being reported, TASR learnt on Thursday. The amendment was presented by MP Richard Elias (Voice-SD) during Thursday's debate on the bill. Apart from Elias, MP Michal Bartek (Voice-SD) is also in favour of the proposal, and other members of the Voice-SD caucus have signed it as well. In their amendment, the MPs wrote that the aim is to remove "doubts about the compliance of the proposed changes with a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council". Under the amendment, the condition will be removed that the report must be linked to "serious anti-social activity of a person with whom the whistleblower is or was in an employment or similar relationship in order to obtain protection". Several opposition MPs have welcomed the move, noting during the debate that they've long pointed to the disputed parts of the bill. MPs are currently discussing at its second reading, via a fast-track legislative procedure, a draft Act on the Office for the Protection of Victims of Crime and Whistleblowers of Anti-Social Activity. mf/df