A Whistleblowing System (WBS) is crucial for any company, as it ensures the safety and welfare of employees, as well as the overall integrity of the organization. As a publicly listed company, TBS has implemented its own WBS, which is necessary to maintain the well-being of the company itself, according to John Suwardi, the SVP of Internal Audit & Risk Management. "If we want our company to be healthy, we need the cooperation of stakeholders to report any form of violation through the WBS. The WBS serves as a medium to collect those reports," said John.
TBS implements the WBS as part of its commitment to Good Corporate Governance (GCG), which includes principles such as Transparency, Accountability, Responsibility, Independence, and Fairness. By implementing GCG, TBS is held accountable for its management and daily operations.
Stakeholders such as employees, shareholders, and external parties who work with TBS are welcome to use the built-in whistleblowing system accessible on TBS's official website. "Our website has accommodated the WBS, making it easier for stakeholders to file a report. The new design on our website is more eye-catching and accessible, with the whistle logo in place on bottom left of every page," said John.
The whistleblowing system at TBS is straightforward. After a report is filed and reviewed, a helicopter-view investigation will take place. Once sufficient data is gathered, the report will be relayed to the president director and audit committee for follow-up. "Although the system is still new, we have received and resolved a number of internal reports. Confidentiality is of the utmost importance. All details are strictly limited outside of the investigation necessity," said John.
When filing a report through the WBS, the person can choose to disclose their identity or not. If the whistleblower chooses to reveal their identity, the investigation team will endeavor to be in touch with them about the result. However, in some cases, the outcome of the investigation cannot be divulged to the whistleblower, especially if they choose to remain anonymous.
The purpose of having the WBS in place is not to harm stakeholders, but as a preventive measure to mitigate situations. The issue being reported can be anything, such as discrimination, violence, unfair advantage, suspected corruption, and more. John is optimistic about keeping each report classified. "We exercise the power to keep it confidential. Indeed, people tend to have reservations about reporting workplace violations. So, we need a campaign to assure our stakeholders that the confidentiality of their reports is guaranteed."
As an effort to encourage the use of the WBS, TBS regularly holds sessions to introduce the WBS to stakeholders. These cover the criteria for violations as well as how to file a report through the official website.
It is with great hope that the WBS will be used wisely by any stakeholder of TBS. “All parties can participate in building TBS through this whistleblowing system, and we will do our best to resolve every report sent our way,” concluded John.
