EU law
In this German case, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled that a person who applies for a job with the sole purpose of making an application for compensation for discrimination is not covered by the Equal Treatment Framework Directive (2000/78/EC) or the Equal Opportunities and Equal Treatment Directive (2006/54/EC) and may be considered as having committed an abuse of rights under EU law.
In Mayr v Bäckerei und Konditorei Gerhard Flockner OHG [2008] IRLR 387, the ECJ held that the protection afforded by the Pregnant Workers Directive against dismissal on grounds of pregnancy does not extend to a woman undergoing IVF treatment who was dismissed when in-vitro-fertilised ova existed but had not yet been transferred to her uterus. However, if she was dismissed essentially because she had undergone this advanced stage of IVF treatment, her dismissal would amount to direct sex discrimination contrary to the Equal Treatment Directive.
A recent decision of the European Court of Justice may result in the UK having to amend its sexual orientation laws in relation to pensions. Although the main points at issue in the case are already covered by legislation in the UK, the application of the Barber temporal restriction may have an impact on public sector schemes.
In Félix Palacios de la Villa v Cortefiel Servicios SA Case C-411/05, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has given its judgment that the Equal Treatment Directive (2000/78/EC) does not preclude a Spanish law permitting clauses in collective agreements that allow employees to be compulsorily retired when they reach a specified age.
In Commission of the European Communities v United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Case C-127/05 ECJ, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has rejected a challenge to the use of the phrase 'so far as is reasonably practicable' in UK health and safety legislation.
The High Court has found that the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, as amended, does not give full effect to the revised EC Equal Treatment Directive, in Equal Opportunities Commission v Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (12 March 2007).
In Navas v Eurest Colectividades SA Case C-13/05, first case to come before it on the issue, the ECJ finds that "disability" within the Framework Directive is not to be equated with "sickness" and that discrimination solely on the grounds of sickness does not fall within the scope of the Directive.
In Goodwin v United Kingdom (11 July 2002), the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) rules that the lack of recognition in the UK of a transsexual's new gender identity for legal purposes is a breach both of article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (respect for private life) and article 12 (right to marry).
In Clifford v Devon County Council the EAT has ruled that public sector employees are eligible to bring an unfair dismissal complaint, by using EC law, even though they work less than eight hours per week.
Compensation for unintentional indirect sex discrimination is payable under the Equal Treatment Directive, rules a London South industrial tribunal (Chair: E R Donnelly) in Tickle v Governors of Riverview CF School and Surrey County Council.
HR and legal information and guidance relating to EU law.