Employee dismissed because of Ramadan fasten

Alert DateAugust 24, 2009 Country: Austria Address: Vienna General Type: Discrimination Racism and discrimination phenomena: Islamophobia, Religious intolerance
Groups affected / Interested in: Muslims Key socio-economic/institutional areas: Employment - labour market
Victims Data
Victims Nationality/Ethnic Origin N/A
Victims Gender Male
Victims Age N/A
Victims Number 1
Fatalities - deaths N/A
Perpetrators Data
Perpetrators Nationality/Ethnic Origin N/A
Perpetrator Gender Male
Perpetrator Age N/A
Perpetrators Number 1
Extremist/Organised Group Violence No

Mr. A. was employed as an electrician in a company in Vienna. Mr. A. had worked for the company for almost year and the collaboration with his colleagues was unproblematic. There had never received any complaints about his work neither from his supervisor nor from the business manager. Mr. A. is a Muslim. In August 2009 he wanted to start fasting at the beginning of Ramadan. At the second day of the Ramadan the business manager asked Mr. A. for a meeting and threatened him to dismiss him, if he didn’t stop fasting. Mr. A. insisted on following his religious duties. Thereupon the manager urged him to a mutual agreement on the termination of the employment.

Mr. A. contacted the Ombud for Equal Treatment and after legal counselling he decided to take the case to the Equal Treatment Commission. The Commission stipulated in its decision that the dismissal of Mr. A. constitutes a discrimination on grounds of religion. 
 

Sources: http://www.gleichbehandlungsanwaltschaft.at/DocView.axd?CobId=43420 (Date of access: 2011-10-13); http://www.frauen.bka.gv.at/DocView.axd?CobId=42389 (Date of access: 2011-10-13).