As of September 1, the Autoridad Independiente de Protección del Informante (Independent Authority for the Protection of Whistleblowers (AIPI)) has officially begun operating. This body was created under Law 2/2023, better known as the “El Informante” Law, which is designed to protect individuals who come forward to report irregularities or fraud within organizations.
The AIPI is an independent administrative authority with its own legal status and full powers, responsible for ensuring that whistleblowers are properly protected. It will also work in coordination with other oversight and inspection bodies.
What does this mean for businesses?
Since the law came into effect, companies above a certain size or operating in specific sectors are required to have an internal reporting channel, also known as a whistleblowing system. This mechanism must allow employees to report any suspected wrongdoing within the organization, with full guarantees of confidentiality.
If your business has not yet set up such a channel, it is important to act quickly. Non-compliance can result in fines of up to €1 million, with potentially serious financial and reputational consequences.
An opportunity to build trust
Beyond the legal requirement, this new framework also represents an opportunity: implementing an effective whistleblowing channel demonstrates a clear commitment to transparency and strong corporate governance.
At addwill, we provide legal and employment law advice to companies and individuals with any questions regarding the implementation of this reform.
For further information or assistance, you can reach our legal-employment team at +34 93 487 52 00, at comunicacio@addwill.eu, or through our online contact form.