The Ministry of Energy has made available for those who take act about corruption situations within the energy system or the companies under its authority, where the state is a majority shareholder, a tool called “whistleblowers”, throughout anybody can give information, under the protection of anonymity.
The “Whistleblowers” tool of the Ministry of Energy is operational since this morning. “It is a project that I thought in the early days of the Ministry of Energy, because such a tool will help us raise the level of integrity, both in the Ministry and in the companies under its authority. I urge you to use it when you need it and to document yourselves about the laws governing it,” said the Minister of Energy Victor Grigorescu.
“There are times when employees inside the system have information about corruption, but unwilling to reveal for fear of negative consequences that might bring upon them”, said ministry officials.
The legal framework for the public official or the contract staff who disclose corruption within the structure or the company where he is employed is given by Law 571/2004. The applicants that inform about corruption, have to complete, on the website of the Ministry of Energy, a questionnaire that includes the name, contact information, description of the case reported and the ability to upload documents.
“Your referral will be taken and verified by the competent bodies of the Ministry of Energy, giving you the presumption of good faith. Please carefully fill out the fields below and accountability, and, if prompted, you can sample reported acts of corruption,” said the institution’s website.
“At the request of the “whistleblower” under disciplinary investigation, following a warning note, the disciplinary commissions or other similar bodies within public authorities, public institutions or other entities are obliged to invite the press and a union representative or trade association. The announcement is made by press release on the website of the public authority, public institution or budgetary unit, at least 3 working days before the meeting, subject to cancellation report and the disciplinary sanction,” said the Ministry of Energy.
However, where denounced by the whistleblowing is hierarchical superior, directly or indirectly, or has control responsibilities, inspection and evaluation of the warning, the disciplinary committee or other similar body shall protect the whistleblower, hiding her identity.