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Berlin (dpa) - Whistleblowers who uncover grievances in companies have to wait in Germany for better protection.
Talks between the Union and the SPD on reform have failed for the time being.
Justice Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) criticized the Union as preventing an important step towards more integrity in the economy and in public institutions. "That shows how little the Union has learned from scandals." The Union MP Jan-Marco Luczak emphasized that the CDU and CSU wanted the protection of whistleblowers. At the same time, you shouldn't put obstacles in the way of companies in the pandemic through additional bureaucracy and regulation.
In December Lambrecht presented a draft law with which a European directive was to be implemented in German law.
However, she wants the protection for whistleblowers not only to apply if one reports violations of EU law, but also for violations of German law.
"Otherwise, anyone who reports a violation of European data protection regulations would be protected, but not protected anyone who points out bribes, tax evasion or violations of German environmental protection or occupational health and safety regulations," she explained.
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Reporting offices are to be set up for such information. Anyone who is terminated, bullied or intimidated prematurely after reporting an abuse should only have to prove this. The employer would then have to prove that the employee's treatment had nothing to do with reporting grievances. The guideline is also intended to protect against a reduction in salary, negative evaluations and denial of promotion as a result of whistleblower advice.
Luczak criticized that Lambrecht went with her proposal "without necessity" beyond the guidelines from Brussels.
For the companies this means a considerable additional burden.
"At the same time, we know that many companies are fighting for their existence in the current pandemic," he emphasized.
The whistleblower directive must therefore be limited to what the EU specifies.
"If Ms. Lambrecht continues to adhere to an excessive regulation, it will make it impossible to bring it into the cabinet," he emphasized.
SPD parliamentary group vice-president Dirk Wiese accused the Union of only wanting to accept a “narrow-gauge solution”.
"Then, for example, employees would not be protected from dismissal who point to abuses in occupational safety in their company," he said.
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Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) emphasized: "Anyone who has the courage to sound the alarm when occupational safety regulations are blatantly violated must not face dismissal."
This is especially true in times of pandemic, where occupational health and safety are particularly important.
"A screwed up narrow-gauge solution to the detriment of courageous employees, like the CDU and CSU, will not exist with me," he announced.
The Union lacks the political will to clean up scandalous grievances.
The European directive must be implemented in German law by December 17th.
If the dispute is not resolved quickly, this will hardly be possible before the federal election in September.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210428-99-385835 / 2