In the News: EU Court: Employers May Ban Religious Symbols

Top EU court rules employers have right to ban religious symbols, France24, 2017-03-14

Private employers may bar staff from wearing Islamic headscarves and other visible religious symbols under certain conditions, the European Union’s top court ruled on Tuesday.

In its first ruling on what has become a major political issue across Europe, the Court of Justice (ECJ) found that a Belgian firm which had a rule barring employees who dealt with customers from wearing visible religious and political symbols in order to project a public image of neutrality may not be guilty of discrimination, if it met certain other conditions. […]

[…] the rule could […] be justified if it was “genuinely pursued in a consistent and systematic manner” with a “legitimate aim”, such as projecting an “image of neutrality” as part of the company’s freedom to conduct business. […]

A reasoned and nuanced decision.

See also:

• An internal rule of an undertaking which prohibits the visible wearing of any political, philosophical or religious sign does not constitute direct discrimination, Press Release, Court of Justice of the European Union, 2017-03-14
• Local copy of the Court’s press release