9 in 10 APAC firms implement whistleblowing policies

Top benefits include early fraud detection and prevention at 35%.

More organisations in the Asia Pacific are adopting whistleblowing programmes, signalling stronger recognition of the importance of whistleblowing and their commitment to ethical transformation, Deloitte’s Conduct Watch Survey report revealed.

The survey, which polled over 500 participants across the region, showed that 91% of organisations have implemented whistleblowing policies, up from 87% last year. Concern over these policies has also increased, with 66% of respondents viewing whistleblowing as a high priority, compared to 58% in 2023.

A key trend in the report is the increased involvement of top management, with 32% of C-suite executives now overseeing their organisations' whistleblowing programmes—up significantly from just 11% in 2023. Deloitte noted that whistleblowing programmes help create a proactive ethical culture, enhance workplace transparency, and ensure financial integrity. 

Between 2023 and 2024, the focus on detecting fraud and financial misconduct rose from 23% to 28%, whilst legally mandated initiatives decreased from 20% to 11%, indicating that organisations are increasingly internally driven to establish whistleblowing systems.

The report found several benefits of whistleblowing programmes, including early fraud detection and prevention (35%), creating a safe working environment (31%), and enhancing stakeholder confidence (20%). Deloitte suggested that companies are realising the broader advantages of whistleblowing beyond merely upholding ethical standards.

Despite this progress, four in 10 respondents reported no specific timeframe for informing stakeholders about their whistleblowing programmes, and fewer than a quarter provide annual updates. Additionally, 61% of challenges faced by organisations in implementing the programmes are related to employee issues like independence, awareness, and fear of retaliation. 

Given these challenges, Deloitte recommended that organisations consider engaging external whistleblowing service providers to alleviate stakeholder concerns and improve programme effectiveness. 

Organisations should also address gaps in their policies, improve functionality, and ensure alignment with industry practices and organisational needs to strengthen their whistleblowing frameworks, it added.