Final go-ahead from the Chamber to the law on Whistleblowing. The text on the reporting of illegal activities in the public administration or in private companies by the employee who becomes aware of it, integrates the legislation on the protection of public sector workers who report illegal activities and introduces forms of protection also for private sector workers . There were 357 votes in favour, 46 against (Fi and Di), 15 abstentions.
For those who report crimes or irregularities in public or private work, starting from cases of corruption, envisaged by the law approved in Montecitorio, identity protection is envisaged in addition to the guarantee of no retaliation on the job and even less of discriminatory acts.
In particular, the employee, public or private, who reports to the National Anti-Corruption Authority (ANAC), or reports to the judicial authority unlawful conduct, of which he has become aware thanks to his employment relationship, cannot be sanctioned, demoted, fired, transferred or subjected to other organizational measures that could have adverse effects. Furthermore, any discriminatory or retaliatory acts adopted by the employer have no value.
The identity of the whistleblower cannot be disclosed. It will be up to the employer to demonstrate that the discriminatory measures are motivated by reasons unrelated to the reporting by the employee.
"The definitive yes of Montecitorio to the law on whistleblowing, or the provisions for the protection of those who report offenses in public and private bodies, is another step forward in building a better Italy - said the vice president of the Chamber, Marina Happy -. Introducing a new regulation to protect those who report corruption phenomena from discrimination or retaliation, the regulation integrates the provisions already envisaged by the "Severino Law" for workers in the public and private sector".
The definitive approval of the pdl on whistleblowing “is a further significant step forward in the fight against corruption – explained Donatella Ferranti, chairman of the Justice Commission of the Chamber -. An effective and concrete protection of those who report offenses can prove to be a valuable tool in breaking that circuit of silence which often makes it difficult to discover corruption phenomena".
The law on Whistleblowing is "a rule of civilization", because "those who report offenses they have come to know of in the workplace cannot be left alone", said the president of the National Anti-Corruption Authority, Raffaele Cantone, comments the approval of legislation for the protection of those who report crimes or irregularities in public or private work, starting from cases of corruption. Canton expresses "particular satisfaction" with the final vote of the Chamber on the bill.
