In accordance with the Act No. 171/2023 Coll. on the Protection of Whistleblowers (hereinafter referred to as “the Act”), which incorporates Directive (EU) 2019/1937 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2019 on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law, Tomas Bata University in Zlín (hereinafter referred to as “TBU”) has established an internal whistleblowing system.

The internal reporting system at TBU is intended for reporting cases of possible infringements of which the whistleblower has become aware in a work context and which, according to the whistleblower, have endangered or damaged the public interest in the areas defined by law, e.g.:

• in the field of public procurement,
• prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing,
• protection of the financial interests of the European Union,
• protection of internal order and security, life and health.

A possible violation may be reported through TBU’s internal reporting system by a person who performs or has performed work or other similar activities for TBU, directly or indirectly, or is or has been in contact with TBU in connection with the performance of work or other similar activity for TBU (including persons applying for work, service or performance), where work in this case refers to dependent work performed in the basic employment relationship, during studies, specialized practical training, internship, as volunteer activity, performance of the office of a member of a body of a legal entity, and activities resulting from a contract the subject of which is the provision of supplies, services, construction work or other similar performance.

• Electronically via the form
• In writing to the mailbox: oznamovatel@utb.cz
• In writing to the address of Tomas Bata University in Zlín, nám. TGM 5555, 760 01 Zlín. The envelope must be marked: “Neotvírat – whistleblowing.” (Do not open! Whistleblowing.)
• In person (by agreement with the competent person)
• Via the external notification system of the Ministry of Justice available at https://oznamovatel.justice.cz/chci-podat-oznameni/.

The report must be signed with the whistleblower’s handwritten signature if it is submitted in paper form, or physically (in person) to the competent person. A report submitted electronically (by e-mail) must be signed with the whistleblower’s qualified electronic signature (this does not apply in the case of a report submitted by a TBU employee or student via TBU e-mail). Reports made via the whistleblower’s data box do not need to be signed.

Under the Act, the whistleblower’s identity is protected, and the whistleblower is protected against retaliation in connection with the report, and TBU is given the opportunity to take remedial action by taking follow-up measures. The protection against retaliation does not apply to a person who has knowingly reported false information.

The rules for receiving and handling reports of possible violations of the law through the TBU’s internal reporting system are set out in the Rector’s Directive.

The person responsible for receiving and assessing the validity of reports submitted through TBU’s internal reporting system is the TBU Ombudsperson.