Request for a preliminary ruling from the Juzgado de lo Social No 1 de Cuenca (Spain) lodged on 13 May 2016 — Carlos Enrique Ruiz Conejero v Ferroser Servicios Auxiliares, S.A. and Ministerio Fiscal

(Case C-270/16)

(2016/C 279/24)

Language of the case: Spanish

Referring court

Juzgado de lo Social No 1 de Cuenca

Parties to the main proceedings

Applicant: Carlos Enrique Ruiz Conejero

Defendants: Ferroser Servicios Auxiliares, S.A. and Ministerio Fiscal

Question referred

Does Directive 2000/78 (1) preclude the application of a provision of national law under which an employer is entitled to dismiss an employee on objective grounds for absences from work, albeit justified but intermittent, which amount to 20 % of the employee’s working hours in two consecutive months, provided that the total absences in the previous 12 months amount to 5 % of working hours or 25 % of working hours in four non-consecutive months within a 12-month period, in the case of an employee who must be treated as disabled within the meaning of the directive when his absence from work was caused by his disability?

(1)  Council Directive 2000/78/EC of 27 November 2000 establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation (OJ 2000 L 303, p. 16).