whistleblowing@thyssenkrupp Materials Romania

At tk accelis Materials Romania S.R.L. (formerly known as thyssenkrupp Materials Romania S.R.L.), integrity, compliance with the law, and adherence to internal regulations are top priorities. To ensure that these values are upheld and that potential risks arising from violations are avoided or minimized, it is essential that any inappropriate conduct be identified, clarified, and remedied at an early stage. Any indication of a potential violation is taken seriously and leads to an investigation conducted through an objective and transparent process, free from any bias. tk accelis Materials Romania S.R.L. therefore provides whistleblowers, in accordance with and under the protection of Law No. 361/2022 on the protection of whistleblowers in Romania, with an internal IT system that allows whistleblowers to submit reports.

The Romanian law on the protection of whistleblowers transposed Directive (EU) 2019/1937 of the European Parliament and of the Council of October 23, 2019, on the protection of persons who report breaches of EU law, as well as serious criminal and administrative offenses, into Romanian law.

Starting December 22, 2022, entities with more than 50 employees must implement appropriate measures, in particular by establishing a reporting channel and setting up investigation procedures that guarantee, among other things, the confidentiality of the report and the protection of the whistleblower against disclosure of their identity and any retaliation resulting from the report. 

A detailed description of the investigation principles of tk accelis Materials Romania S.R.L. andthe rights and duties of a whistleblower can be found as an attachment to this page.

1.    Who can report a violation?

A whistleblower is an individual who files a report or discloses information regarding violations obtained in the course of their work. Reports can be submitted through several channels, including:

·         employees

·         independent contractors

·         freelancers and consultants, vendors, and clients

·         volunteers and interns

·         shareholders or owners of company stock; persons holding administrative, management, supervisory, or representative positions

·         any person working for or under the supervision and direction of contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers.

2.    What can be reported?

Violations of internal regulations and/or applicable laws listed in Law No. 361/2022 on the protection of whistleblowers in Romania, violations of human rights, and violations of environmental obligations or risks, as well as violations of European legislation, may be reported through a variety of channels. Even indications or suspicions of violations may be reported and will be taken seriously. Therefore, in this document, “violations” refers to both actual and potential violations.

3.  Who is responsible for handling reports?

thyssenkrupp AG has established a Compliance Investigations Department (CO/L&C-INV) with autonomous, specially trained staff acting as “system managers” to support tk accelis Materials Romania S.R.L. in receiving reports and conducting investigations. These compliance investigation officers are impartial, independent, not bound by any instructions regarding investigations, and have sworn to maintain confidentiality. Reports received—which may also be submitted anonymously—are treated confidentially, and whistleblowers are protected by all appropriate means against any adverse consequences resulting from a report.

Whistleblowers may submit a report through various channels described below. The System Manager, together with the tk Group’s internal audit function (“CO/AUD”) and the Compliance Manager, will agree on the appropriate investigation procedures and propose appropriate measures to tk accelis Materials Romania S.R.L., if necessary.

4.    How can I submit a report?

A culture of open communication is an essential component of effective compliance. Employees must be able to address potential violations openly, anonymously, and, above all, at an early stage.

To this end, tk accelis Materials Romania S.R.L. provides a number of internal channels for reporting irregularities, which are outlined below:

5.       Data Protection

During the course of internal investigations, compliance with applicable data protection laws will be ensured. Detailed information on this topic can be found here: Information on Data Protection.