Case C‑344/20

L.F.

v

SCRL

(Request for a preliminary ruling
from the tribunal du travail francophone de Bruxelles)

Judgment of the Court (Second Chamber) of 13 October 2022

(Reference for a preliminary ruling – Social policy – Directive 2000/78/EC – Establishment of a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation – Prohibition of discrimination on the ground of religion or belief – Internal rule of a private undertaking prohibiting any manifestation, in the workplace, of religious, philosophical or political belief – Prohibition including words, clothing, or any other means of manifesting those beliefs – Wearing of an item of religious clothing)

1. Social policy – Equal treatment in employment and occupation – Directive 2000/78 – Prohibition on discrimination based on religion or belief – Single ground of discrimination – Scope

   (Art. 19 TFEU; Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 21; Council Directive 2000/78, Art. 1)

   (see paragraphs 25-27, 29, operative part 1)

2. Social policy – Equal treatment in employment and occupation – Directive 2000/78 – Prohibition on discrimination based on religion or belief – Internal rule of a private undertaking prohibiting any manifestation of religious, philosophical or political belief in the workplace

   (Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Arts 10, 16 and 52(3); Council Directive 2000/78, Art. 2(2)(a) and (b))

   (see paragraphs 33-35, 37, 39-42, operative part 2)

3. Social policy – Equal treatment in employment and occupation – Directive 2000/78 – Right of Member States to introduce or maintain provisions which are more favourable to the protection of the principle of equal treatment than those laid down in that directive

   (Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 16; Council Directive 2000/78, Arts 1 and 8(1))

   (see paragraphs 52-56, 62, operative part 3)

See the text of the decision.