Brussels, 03/11/2010 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has sent a reasoned opinion to the Czech Republic requesting it comply with EU rules on gender discrimination in employment (Directive 2002/73/EC). The Czech Republic failed to adequately implement all aspects of the directive in its national law. It now has two months to tell the Commission how it will fully comply with the directive, after which time the Commission may decide to refer it to the EU Court of Justice.
Although most of the issues raised have been resolved, the Commission still takes the view that that the Czech Republic still has not correctly implemented Article 2(7) of the directive concerning the right of a woman to return to the same or equivalent post after maternity leave.
In particular, Czech law does not comply fully with the directive because it does not guarantee a woman on maternity leave the right to benefit from any improvements in working conditions to which she would have been entitled during her absence, or to return to work on terms and conditions that are no less favourable to her. (G.B./transl.rt)