Whistleblowing and Breaches
[GRI 2-26 (2021)]
EGCO Group encourages its employees and stakeholders to participate in monitoring compliance with laws and relevant regulations, and adherence to good governance principles and code of business ethics. Guidelines have also been established for reporting, channels for receiving complaints, and procedures for disclosing corruption, misconduct, wrongful acts, and breaches of the code of business ethics, as well as violations of human rights, discrimination, and threats.
Whistleblowing Policy and Guideline
To uphold ethical standards, EGCO Group has established clear mechanisms for the identification, reporting, and investigation of any breaches of the company’s code of conduct. Furthermore, the company has a comprehensive Whistleblowing policy and Whistleblowing guideline that provide a confidential and protected channel for individuals to report concerns. These systems work together to ensure a culture of integrity and accountability within the organization.
Whistleblowing Mechanism
EGCO Group established a whistleblowing mechanism, and it is managed by a dedicated department clearly defined, the Internal Audit Division, to oversee the process of complaints with impartiality. The company believes in fostering a safe reporting environment, which is whistleblowers are allowed to submit reports anonymously, should they choose. The received reports, i.e. information about the whistleblower, information of alleged, submission date, detailed information of complaints, and relevant evidence, are kept confidential to protect the identity of the reporter and the integrity of the investigation. Furthermore, EGCO Group maintains a zero-tolerance policy for retaliation against the whistleblower of company-related corruption or the people who cooperate in the investigation. They must not suffer from any retaliation, demotions, penalties, or negative impacts resulting from those actions. This commitment highlights the dedication to code of conduct compliance and encourages individuals to speak up without fear of reprisal.
Independent Third-party Reporting Channel
To ensure impartiality and trust, EGCO Group's reporting channel is operated by independent third-party (parent organization), Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT). As the parent entity, EGAT independently handles whistleblower reports without influence from EGCO Group’s management, helping to ensure objectivity and reduce conflicts of interest. Its structural separation from EGCO’s operations allows EGAT to serve as a neutral intermediary, receiving and managing reports confidentially in a way that promotes transparency and accountability.
Training
To ensure that the whistleblowing mechanism is realized by relevant stakeholders, the company provides communication and training related to anti-fraud and corruption policy and guidelines, including on the proper use of the reporting channel. This includes the reporting process, the types of issues to report, the available protections, and the company's commitment to addressing all legitimate concerns effectively.
Whistleblowing Handling Process
To extend the transparency of EGCO Group’s whistleblowing mechanism, the company has disclosed on the process for investigating the reported breaches. EGCO Group's whistleblowing process begins with report receipt and registration by the Internal Audit Division, followed by a preliminary review. Complaints involving personnel are presented to the President/Chairman/Lead Independent Director for review and potential investigation by a committee. Stakeholder complaints are handled by relevant divisions, possibly leading to an investigation division. Whistleblowers receive updates, and investigation results are and proposes disclosure in the Annual Report to the Board of Directors.
To conclude, EGCO Group's whistleblowing process is structured to ensure that reports are handled systematically, impartially, and with due consideration for confidentiality and the protection of all parties involved. The process outlines clear steps for receiving, reviewing, investigating, and resolving complaints, as well as for communicating outcomes and ensuring appropriate actions are taken.
