The government outlined a bill Wednesday to protect whistle-blowers in both the public and private sectors but provides no punishment for violators and says the protection must be pursued in lawsuits.
This has led experts to deem the legislation toothless.
The stated aim of the bill, which is be submitted to the Diet next year, is to protect consumer interests from coverups, government officials said, noting how whistle-blowing has revealed a spate of corporate wrongdoing in recent years.