Whistleblower protection

The Finnish Whistleblower Act (1171/2022) entered into force on 1 January 2023. It aims to provide effective protection for whistleblowers who, in the course of their work, detect breaches of European or national laws, such as in public procurement, the protection of privacy and personal data, the security of network and information systems, or the granting or use of EU or national aid or state aid. The Act implements the European Union directive on the protection of whistleblowers.

Whistleblower protection allows people to safely report breaches. Not only is their identity protected, but the Whistleblower Act also prohibits retaliation against the whistleblower. For example, an employer cannot weaken the conditions of the whistleblower’s employment, terminate their employment or lay off the whistleblower as a result of the whistleblowing.

The Academy of Finland will set up an internal whistleblowing channel within the statutory three-month transition period by 1 April 2023. Only persons employed by the Academy will have access to the channel.

The Office of the Chancellor of Justice has established a centralised external whistleblowing channel. The Office of the Chancellor of Justice’s external whistleblowing channel was launched on 1 January 2023. Other persons, such as retired civil servants or those employed by partners, may use the external channel to submit a notification regarding the activities of the Academy of Finland that they have observed in their work and which falls within the scope of the Whistleblower Act. The Office of the Chancellor of Justice forwards the notifications to the competent authority or ministry.

By 1 April 2023, we will publish more detailed information on how to submit notifications via the internal channel and the Chancellor of Justice’s external channel, on the notification procedures and on the conditions of whistleblower protection.