Directive establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation

Since the Treaty of Amsterdam came into force in 1999, new EU laws, or Directives, have been enacted in the area of anti-discrimination.The Council Directive 2000/78/EC (described as a Directive "establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation") implements the principle of equal treatment in the area of employment, covering disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation and age.

The Directive entered into force on the 2nd December 2000 and gave member states three years to transpose the Directive into law, with an additional three years for legislation in the area of age and disability.

EU Directive 2000/43/EC covered discrimination based on race and ethnic origin.

There were two exemptions in Article 15 which both applied to Northern Ireland: "1. In order to tackle the under-representation of one of the major religious communities in the police service of Northern Ireland, differences in treatment regarding recruitment into that service, including its support staff, shall not constitute discrimination insofar as those differences in treatment are expressly authorised by national legislation. 2. In order to maintain a balance of opportunity in employment for teachers in Northern Ireland while furthering the reconciliation of historical divisions between the major religious communities there, the provisions on religion or belief in this Directive shall not apply to the recruitment of teachers in schools in Northern Ireland in so far as this is expressly authorised by national legislation."

See also

• List of European Union directives
• Directive 2000/78/EC and Greece. Discriminations in labour based on age

External links

• Text of the Directive
• Information about the Directive
• European Commission Anti-discrimination