Joined Cases C‑331/22 and C‑332/22

KT and Others

v

Dirección General de la Función Pública, adscrita al Departamento de la Presidencia de la Generalitat de Catalunya
and
Departamento de Justicia de la Generalitat de Catalunya

(Requests for a preliminary ruling from the Juzgado de lo Contencioso-Administrativo n.o 17 de Barcelona)

Judgment of the Court (Sixth Chamber) of 13 June 2024

(References for a preliminary ruling – Directive 1999/70/EC – Framework agreement on fixed-term work concluded by ETUC, UNICE and CEEP – Fixed-term employment contracts in the public sector – Interim civil servants – Clause 5 – Measures to prevent and penalise the improper use of successive fixed-term employment contracts or relationships)

1. Social policy – Framework agreement on fixed-term work concluded by ETUC, UNICE and CEEP – Directive 1999/70 – Measures to prevent abuse of successive fixed-term employment contracts – Objective reasons liable to justify the renewal of such contracts – Fixed-term employment contracts in the public sector – Time limits laid down in national law for filling the post occupied by the temporary worker concerned – Failure to comply by the public administration – Successive fixed-term employment contracts covering fixed and permanent staffing needs – National legislation considering recourse to such successive fixed-term employment contracts to be abusive – Whether permissible

   (Council Directive 1999/70, annex, clause 5(1)(a))

   (see paragraphs 51-57, 65, operative part 1)

2. Social policy – Framework agreement on fixed-term work concluded by ETUC, UNICE and CEEP – Directive 1999/70 – Measures to prevent abuse of successive fixed-term employment contracts – Prohibition on reducing the general level of protection of workers in the field of that agreement – Obligation for the national court to interpret national law in a manner consistent with EU law

   (Council Directive 1999/70, Art. 2, first para., and annex, clause 5(1) and (2))

   (see paragraphs 58, 59, 67, 68, 70, 71)

3. Social policy – Framework agreement on fixed-term work concluded by ETUC, UNICE and CEEP – Directive 1999/70 – Measures to prevent abuse of successive fixed-term employment contracts – Selection procedures seeking definitively to fill posts occupied temporarily by fixed-term workers – Fixed-term employment contracts in the public sector – National case-law and legislation providing as measures intended to penalise the improper use of successive fixed-term employment contracts or relationships the continued employment of the worker concerned until selection procedures are organised and closed, as well as the organisation of such procedures – Financial compensation that sets a double ceiling solely in favour of the fixed-term worker who is unsuccessful in the selection procedures – Not permissible

   (Council Directive 1999/70, annex, clause 5)

   (see paragraphs 75-77, 80, 82-84, 86-89, 91, operative part 2)

4. Social policy – Framework agreement on fixed-term work concluded by ETUC, UNICE and CEEP – Directive 1999/70 – Measures to prevent abuse of successive fixed-term employment contracts – Meaning – Conversion of fixed-term employment contracts into contracts of indefinite duration – Included – Conditions – National legislation not providing for adequate measures to prevent and penalise the misuse of successive fixed-term contracts – No contra legem interpretation of national law

   (Charter of Fundamental Rights, Art. 47; Council Directive 1999/70, annex, clause 5)

   (see paragraphs 95-99, 101-105, operative part 3)

See the text of the decision.