JLR whistleblower sacked for publishing concerns about VinFast cars

In UK employment law, workers are supposed to be protected from employer retaliation if they disclose information they reasonably believe shows the health and safety of any individual is likely to be endangered.

Under the Public Interest Disclosure at Work Act 1998, any clause in a contract that seeks to bind them to silence is void.

However, there is growing pressure in Parliament for stronger safeguards for whistleblowers amid concerns existing protections are too weak.

A bill will be introduced on Wednesday proposing to set up an Office of the Whistleblower to protect workers who speak up.

Supporters such as Baroness Susan Kramer, a former transport minister, says Mr Denli’s case is not exceptional and underlines why the bill is needed.

“Whistleblowers very typically find themselves fired, blacklisted for future jobs and they pay a huge price in terms of their personal career,” she said.

“It is not acceptable, because we need whistleblowers to deter wrongdoing and to expose wrongdoing.”

Georgina Halford-Hall, chief executive of Whistleblowers UK, said: “This story is one of hundreds we hear every year from whistleblowers who have been rewarded for doing the right thing with retaliation.

“Currently whistleblowers have to decide between speaking up and their personal wellbeing. The best incentive that MPs can deliver is to ensure whistleblowers are properly protected and that wrongdoing will be investigated.”

The BBC offered both Tata Group and JLR the opportunity to comment in detail.

Tata Group, the multinational corporation that owns JLR, did not respond.

JLR said it did not comment on ongoing legal proceedings.

VinFast said: “We do not interfere in the recruitment or HR activities of the Tata Group or its companies. We have no further comment on the matter.”