20/09/2007 (Agence Europe) - In conclusions published on 20 September, Advocate-General Yves Bot suggests that the European Court of Justice should rule in Case C-346/06 that the fact that the Land of Lower Saxony in Germany can make respect for collective agreements by workers posted abroad binding does not violate Community law on the freedom to supply services, or the directive on the posting of workers. If the Court follows his conclusions, it would allow Lower Saxony to launch legal proceedings against representatives of the company Objekt und Bauregie GmbH & Co. KG because the company's Polish subcontractor sent workers to a building site for a public contract who only received half the salary stipulated in the collective agreement in force in the region. The case now returns to the German court of appeal to decide on the transparency of Lower Saxony's legislation and its effectiveness in protecting the interests of seconded workers. (cd)