Sex discrimination: Dismissal of pregnant woman for pregnancy-related illness is sex discrimination

The EC Equal Treatment Directive precludes dismissal of a female worker at any time during her pregnancy for absences owing to pregnancy-related illness, rules the European Court of Justice in Brown v Rentokil Ltd 30.6.98 Case C-394/96. The ECJ also holds, contrary to its ruling in Larsson, that the woman's absence during the period extending from the beginning of her pregnancy to the start of her maternity leave cannot be taken into account in computing the period justifying dismissal under national law.