Supply Chain Act Software

Due Diligence Act

1) The company shall ensure that an appropriate internal company complaints procedure is in place in accordance with paragraphs 2 to 4. The complaints procedure enables persons to point out human rights and environment-related risks as well as violations of human rights-related or environment-related obligations that have arisen as a result of the economic actions of a company in its own business area or of a direct supplier. The whistleblowers must be given confirmation that the information has been received. The persons entrusted by the company with the implementation of the procedure shall discuss the facts with the whistleblowers. They may offer a procedure of amicable settlement. Companies may instead participate in a corresponding external complaint procedure, provided it meets the following criteria.

2) The company shall establish rules of procedure in text form, which shall be publicly available.

3) The persons entrusted by the company with the conduct of the proceedings must offer a guarantee of impartiality; in particular, they must be independent and not bound by instructions. They are bound to secrecy.

4) The company must make clear and comprehensible information on accessibility and responsibility and on the implementation of the complaints procedure publicly available in an appropriate manner. The complaints procedure must be accessible to potential parties, maintain confidentiality of identity and ensure effective protection against disadvantage or punishment as a result of a complaint.

5) The effectiveness of the complaints procedure must be reviewed at least once a year and on an ad hoc basis if the company anticipates a significantly changed or significantly expanded risk situation in its own business area or at the direct supplier, for example as a result of the introduction of new products, projects or a new business area. The measures are to be repeated immediately if necessary.