At the meeting on 6 August, a draft law on amendments to the Bridging Act, , was announced. The changes contained in it will contribute to raising public awareness and to taking over the European Union's Directives (EU Directive). . During the public consultation of the draft law, a number of proposals were received from the public, which have been examined, and some proposals have been taken into account.
Since the Alert Raising Act was almost at the same time as the directive, the Latvian regulation is very similar to the content of the directive. . Most of the proposed amendments, as recommendations, have already been included in the guidelines for the establishment of an internal alarm system and for the examination of alert alerts, accompanied by more than one year's observations on the necessary regulatory developments.
In taking over the requirements of the Directive in the Alert Raising Act, it is intended to clarify the offences for which in particular the alert is to be raised. . The current list of priority areas will be updated and supplemented with consumer protection, transport security, infringements in the supply of goods and services, transparency of state aid and other areas covered by the EU Directive.
Amendments to the Law provide that in future the State's guaranteed protection against adverse effects caused by an alarm will not only apply to the alert-taker and his relatives, but also to related persons who may be colleagues, other supporters, legal persons belonging to the alert-taker.
The transposition of the Directive will also extend administrative responsibility. . It should be recalled that from 1 July of this year, upon the entry into force of the Administrative Liability Act, the penalty is intended to create adverse consequences for the alert-taker or his relatives, as well as for knowingly making false statements in the alert-taker's report and to raise alarm in public. The amendments to the law also call for administrative responsibility for those who interfere with the submission of an alert-taker's report.
The State Chancery also calls for clarification of the requirements regarding the receipt and processing of alert alerts in both the public and private sectors. Until now, these requirements have been included in the guidelines in the form of recommendations.
It is also planned to strengthen the establishment of an internal alarm system, while at the same time reducing the burden on the organisations caused by this requirement of the Law. . State Chancellery shall offer State and local government authorities with fewer than 50 employees to form a common internal alarm system U. With the entry into force of the new amendments, the same requirements would also apply to private operators with 50 to 249 employees. . It is recalled that internal alarm is the most effective way of preventing potential infringements and damage to the public interest, as well as undermining the reputation of the company I. The EU directive also calls on Member States to encourage Member States to first use the possibility of reporting internally in their workplace. At the same time, it is planned to clarify cases where the alert should be made public.
The alert law entered into force on 1 May 2019 and aims to promote the raising of alerts for infringements observed in the working environment in the public interest and to ensure the setting up and operation of alert mechanisms, as well as adequate protection of alert officers. . The amendments to the law transposing the EU Directive should enter into force on 17 December 2021.
Santa Jirgensons
Communications Department Consultant
Tel: 67082922
E-mail: santa.jirgensone@mk.gov.lv