'First job contract' (contrat première embauche): violation or non-violation of Directive 2000/78/EC

23.3.2006

ORAL QUESTION H-0268/06
for Question Time at the part-session in April 2006
pursuant to Rule 109 of the Rules of Procedure
by Harlem Désir
to the Commission

The ‘first job contract’ that has been introduced in France allows businesses with more than 20 employees to take on a young person of under 26, with a two-year trial period during which s/he can be dismissed without reason. These employees would not benefit from the protective labour-law clauses requiring an employer to justify dismissal. Article 2.2 of Directive 2000/78/EC[1] deems discrimination to have occurred ‘where one person is treated less favourably than another is’, inter alia on grounds of age. Does the Commission think that the ‘first job contract’ complies with the principles of the directive? If not, what steps does it intend to take vis-à-vis the Member State concerned?

 

 

Tabled: 23.03.2006

fr

• [1]  OJ L 303, 2.12.2000, p. 16.