640 Toronto – European Union Rules on Headscarves in the Workplace

The European Court of Justice has ruled that companies can ban employees from wearing the Islamic headscarf, but only as part of prohibitions including other religious and political symbols.

It is the first case of its kind amid a series of legal disputes over the right for Muslim women to wear the hijab at work.

“An internal rule of an undertaking which prohibits the visible wearing of any political, philosophical or religious sign does not constitute direct discrimination,” the court said in a statement.

Lior Samfiru, Employment Lawyer and Co-Founding Partner at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP, joins Global News Radio 640 Toronto host John Oakley to discuss the impact of this ruling.