Commissie verzoekt Denemarken gelijke behandeling deeltijdwerkers in gemeentelijke onderwijssector (en)

The European Commission has asked Denmark to comply in full with the EU Directive on part-time work in the municipal education sector.

In particular, the Commission wants the Danish authorities to ensure equal employment conditions with comparable permanent staff for part-time staff who work for less than 8 hours per week or who are employed for less than one month.

Various collective agreements in the municipal education sector in Denmark exclude this type of staff from a number of benefits that full-time and other part-time employees receive. Directive 97/81/EC on part-time work requires equal treatment for part-time staff with comparable permanent staff.

As an exception, a Member State may decide to exclude casual staff from this protection. However, the Danish rules in question exclude 'low-intensity' staff where this exception does not apply.

Next steps

The Commission's request takes the form of a 'reasoned opinion' under EU infringement procedures. Denmark now has two months to notify the Commission of the measures taken to bring national legislation into line with the EU Directive. Otherwise, the Commission may decide to refer Denmark to the EU's Court of Justice.