European Court of Justice ruling on dismissed pregnant workers

Dismissed pregnant workers must enjoy effective judicial protection of their rights under Community law, according to the Court of Justice of the European Communities. In a judgment in Case C-63/08 (Virginie Pontin v T-Comalux SA), the court held: “Where the only remedy available under national legislation to a worker dismissed during pregnancy does not provide adequate time-limits within which to bring proceedings, that legislation introduces less favourable treatment linked to pregnancy and constitutes discrimination against female employees.”