Whistleblower Policy
Whistleblower Reporting
If you wish to report a possible or actual violation of legislation, you can do so through the designated reporting channel.
What is the whistleblowers' scheme?
The whistleblowers' scheme is in place to provide individuals with a secure channel to report suspected or actual legal violations by or within Claes Retail Group.
What can be reported through the whistleblowers' channel?
The whistleblowers' channel can be used to report possible violations of the following legislation:
- Public procurement;
- Financial services, products, and markets, prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing;
- Product safety and product conformity;
- Transportation safety;
- Environmental protection;
- Radiation protection and nuclear safety;
- Food and feed safety, animal health, and animal welfare;
- Public health;
- Consumer protection;
- Protection of personal privacy and personal data, and the security of networks and information systems;
- Combatting tax fraud;
- Combatting social fraud;
- The financial interests of the European Union;
- Violations related to the European internal market.
Who can make a report?
- Employees, including candidates, former employees, volunteers, and interns.
- Independent service providers.
- Shareholders and individuals belonging to the managerial, executive, or supervisory bodies.
- Anyone working under the supervision and direction of contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers.
- Facilitators and third parties connected to the reporter (e.g., colleagues and family members).
- Legal entities owned by the reporters, for whom the reporters work, or with whom the reporters are otherwise connected in a work-related context.
What protection does a reporter receive?
The protection of the whistleblowers' scheme entails organizing the handling of the report in such a way that the safety of the reporter is guaranteed, and the (identification) details of the reporter are treated confidentially. On the other hand, a reporter is protected against possible negative measures regarding the reporter. Threats with or attempts to take measures as retaliation for a report or disclosure are not allowed. This specifically refers to a prohibition on any (in)direct action or omission leading to unjustified harm to the reporter.
The dual protection of the whistleblowers' scheme applies only to reporters when they have valid reasons to believe that the information reported at the time of the report is accurate. A reporter who knowingly reports false information is not protected.
To whom can you address your report?
You can report information about the possible/actual violation via the following contact details:
Annick Thijs
Centrum Zuid 3401 3530 Houthalen
E-mail: blowthewhistle@claesretailgroup.com
+32 11 60 84 00
More information about the whistleblowers' channel and the handling of a report can be found in the whistleblowers' policy. If you have any questions about the whistleblowers' scheme, you can contact Annick Thijs (annick.thijs@claesretailgroup.com or +32 11 60 84 00).