Combating religious discrimination in the workplace

Approaches by the EU Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights

Abstract

The European Commission, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights and the European Network Against Racism agree that religious discrimination in workplaces is becoming a widespread concern for many believers. The Court of Justice of the European Union and the European Court of Human Rights have addressed religious discrimination in employment. A comparison of the two courts’ judgements identifies commonalities and differences in weighing the autonomy of religious organizations versus employees’ right to be free of discrimination on religious grounds.