DSM to protect whistleblowers

By Patrick Raleigh, ERJ On-line news editor

Heerlen, The Netherlands- DSM is introducing a whistleblower policy to protect employees who report abuses within the company, the Dutch group announced 5 July.

Under the new policy, employees can report any activity by DSM or one of its employees that is illegal or in breach of the group's values or corporate duties. The scheme meets the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in the US and is due to be fully implemented from the start of 2005, DSM said.

As part of the scheme, DSM has installed a “whistleblower contact” for employees who prefer not to report suspicions within their own business unit or business group.

“DSM will not allow employees who report a suspicion of abuse in good faith to be punished or to be treated unfairly as a result of their action,” said a group statement. “Should this nonetheless happen, then DSM will take appropriate measures to protect the employee,” it added.

DSM Elastomers, part of DSM, is among a group of leading EPDM rubber suppliers, which is currently under investigation with regard to alleged price fixing in Europe and North America.