Information for Whistleblowers (Whistleblowing)
In accordance with the Act No. 171/2023 Coll., on the protection of whistleblowers (the “Act”), PHOTOMATE s.r.o., having its registered office at Prokišova 356/7, České Budějovice 6, 370 01 České Budějovice, Company ID No: 26080249 (the “Company”), implements an internal whistleblowing system and provides protection to persons reporting possible illegal conduct.
What actions can be reported?
The whistleblower, i.e. the person who has become aware of a possible violation that has occurred or is about to occur at the Company in connection with the performance of work or other similar activity for the Company, may provide information about the violation if:
- It shows signs of a criminal act; or
- It shows signs of an offence for which the law sets a penalty with the upper limit of at least CZK 100,000;
- It violates the act on the protection of whistleblowers; or
- It violates another legal regulation or a regulation of the European Union.
The receipt of notifications from persons who do not perform work or other similar activities for the Companies via the Companies' internal notification system is excluded. These persons may submit notifications via the external notification system of the Ministry of Justice.
What notification is excluded?
The protection does not apply especially to knowingly untrue notifications, i.e. notifications of information in respect of which the whistleblower did not have a legitimate interest to believe it is true.
Notifications containing classified information or information the disclosure of which could immediately endanger an essential security interest of the Czech Republic are also excluded from protection.
How can a notification be submitted?
(A) Via the Company’s internal notification system
In writing, by phone or in person at the Company’s registered office by prior arrangement with the relevant person.
The person responsible for receiving and handling notifications is:
Chief Human Resources Manager, Email: ombudsman@photomate.eu, tel. +420/602137557
The notification must contain the name, surname and date of birth, or other information from which the identity of the notifier can be inferred, unless the identity of the notifier is demonstrably known to the responsible person. The notice must also contain a true description of the facts indicating occurrence of an unlawful conduct at the Companies.
(B) Via the Ministry of Justice of the Czech Republic
By submitting a notification via the website: https://oznamovatel.justice.cz/
What is the time limit for handling a notification?
Every whistleblower who has submitted a notification through the internal notification system will receive:
- Notification receipt confirmation within 7 calendar days;
- Information about the notification assessment result within 30 days of the notification receipt. The investigation period can be extended twice by 30 days in complex cases (i.e. to a total of 90 days).
How is the whistleblower protected?
The receipt and handling of notifications within this system is technically and organisationally set so that the whistleblower’s identity cannot be revealed. Only the responsible person has access to notifications, and information on the whistleblower’s identity may be provided only with the whistleblower’s consent or if determined by another legal regulation.
The whistleblower or other protected person:
Is entitled to protection under Directive (EU) 2019/1937 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2019 on the protection of whistleblowers, as amended;
Will not be subject to retaliation in connection with a reasonably made notification (either via the internal reporting system or via the Ministry of Justice), i.e. to actions in relation to the whistleblower's work or other similar activity that may cause harm to the whistleblower or other protected person.