Whistleblowing from workers, etc.

The Whistleblower Protection Act ensures the protection of the lives and bodies of the people and the interests of consumers, and recognizes violations of laws and regulations by businesses that provide services, and makes whistleblower reports. It is a law that stipulates measures necessary to protect whistleblowers and comply with laws and regulations so that they will not be disadvantageously treated, such as dismissals, for the sake of doing so.

Whistleblowing refers to (1) workers, retirees, and officers (2) service providers (or their officers, employees, proxy/agent and others).
③Reporting fact (violation of laws and regulations subject to reporting) has occurred or is about to occur (4) Reporting to certain reporting destinations.
If you would like to know more about the whistleblower protection system, please visit the Consumer Affairs Agency website.

Whistleblower Protection System | Consumer Affairs Agency (outside site)

1.Being a worker
　This includes full-time employees, public servants, temporary workers, part-time workers, part-time workers, business partners, officers, and retirees (within one year).

2.Not the purpose of wrongdoing
　Reports for the purpose of gaining improper profits or damaging others will not be whistleblowers.

3.Reporting that the fact to be reported has occurred or is about to occur.
　The facts subject to reporting are violations of laws relating to the protection of the lives, bodies, property and other interests of the people.
　Criminal acts or acts that ultimately lead to punishment or administrative punishment.

4.There is a reasonable reason to believe that the content of the report is true.
　It is not just speculation or hearing, but evidence that confirms that the content of the report is true.
　A considerable basis is required, such as highly credible statements by related parties.

Whistleblower reports must be made to an "administrative agency that has the authority to dispose or make recommendations" regarding the facts to be reported.
In the case of violations of laws and regulations that have authority such as disposal or recommendation in Yokohama City, we will accept reports from workers etc.
In addition, about wrongdoing of city staff or opinion for city, please send to department having jurisdiction over the contents.
Organization and duties of each ward bureau headquarters (references for each section, etc.) Yokohama City

▼When making a report, please contact each department in charge of the law directly from the "List of departments in charge of the law to be reported" below.
(Example) In the Consumer Economic Section, only the "Measurement Law" will be accepted.
List of jurisdiction sections of law to be reported (PDF: 268KB)
Summary (PDF: 535KB) about report processing from outside workers based on Yokohama-shi whistleblower protection law

If the above list is not applicable, such as when Yokohama City does not have the authority to dispose of it, the country, prefecture, or other administrative organizations may be the destination.
Please access the search site of the Consumer Affairs Agency from the link below and search for the report destination.

Notification of whistleblower reports / Consultations_Search for administrative agencies (outside site)

In order to handle reports appropriately, please clarify the following matters when reporting.
If you are unable to provide information due to circumstances, please let us know.

• Relationship with Service Providers
• Name and location of the Service Provider
• Details of the report (when, who, where, for what, and what kind of offense)
• Evidence (documents, photographs, electromagnetic recording media, etc.)
• Contact information such as the name of the caller and Address (anonymous), Phone number, or e-mail address.

※If it is determined that it does not correspond to a whistleblower report based on the content received, it may not be accepted as a whistleblower report.
In addition, please refer to jurisdiction section of each law about individual inquiry such as "why we cannot accept" "what is progress of investigation".

• Operational status in FY2023 (word: 15KB)

　Whistleblower Protection System | Consumer Affairs Agency (outside site)

　Whistleblower Protection System-Kanagawa homepage (outside site)

　Search for whistleblower reports/consultants administrative agencies | Consumer Affairs Agency (outside site)