The European Union’s top court ruled Thursday that employers may forbid the wearing of visible symbols of religious or political belief, such as headscarves.
EU Court Allows Employers To Restrict Wearing Religious Symbols At Work
The issue was filed before the European Union's Court of Justice by two German women who chose to wear Islamic headscarves to work.
EU Court Allows Employers To Restrict Wearing Religious Symbols At Work
EU Court Allows Employers To Restrict Wearing Religious Symbols At Work
But the Luxembourg-based tribunal said in its ruling that courts in the bloc’s 27 member states should weigh up whether the ban corresponded to a “genuine need” on the part of the employer. They must also consider the rights and interests of the employee, including by taking into account national legislation on freedom of religion, it said.
The case was brought before the Court of Justice of the European Union by two women in Germany who chose to wear Islamic headscarves at their workplaces. One works as a special needs carer while the other is a sales assistant and cashier.
Both filed legal complaints before German courts, which in turn referred questions to the EU tribunal.
