Legal protection for whistleblowers proposed in Dubai

A protection clause for whistleblowers has been introduced in the draft code of Corporate Governance for Developers by the Dubai Land Department, Emirates24|7 can reveal.

As per the draft, the Audit Committee, which will be an integral part of the risk management process, will ensure a framework is in place by way of a policy (and procedures) which protects from discharge or discrimination against a whistle-blower, who may otherwise be subject to retaliation by the employers or fellow employees within the organisation to which they belong.

Defined by the draft code, whistleblowing is the action of person, usually an employee (the whistle-blower), in disclosing evidence of wrongdoing including fraud, financial irregularity, serious mal-administration arising from the deliberate commission of improper conduct, unethical activities, which may be of a criminal nature and dangerous acts or omissions, which create a risk to health, safety or the environment within the organisation to which they belong.

Although cases of whistleblowers are rarely reported in the Middle East, government entities and large private companies do have internal compliance programmes.

However, inclusion of a protective framework for whistleblowers may encourage employees in development companies to report wrongdoing to the authorities.

Over a dozen countries have now adopted comprehensive whistleblower protection laws which create mechanisms for reporting, investigate reports, and provide legal protections to the people who informed them.

Whistle-blowing, the world over