Ryanair loses EU employment case

Ryanair has reportedly vowed to launch an appeal after losing a legal battle over the dismissal of three workers. According to The Independent newspaper, a court in the Belgian city of Charleroi ruled that their dismissal two years ago, after they had completed a year-long probation period, broke Belgian labour laws. The carrier claimed that the three employees had been employed under Irish law. The case reportedly centred around the fact that the workers were laid off after one year – this would have been legal under Irish laws but, in Belgium, employees have full protection after six months. The carrier reportedly pointed out that the contracts had been signed in Dublin but the court found that, because they were working in Charleroi, the workers were entitled to protection under Belgian law. Ryanair personnel director Eddie Wilson is quoted as saying: “These three former employees were let go at the end of their probation period in accordance with the contract of their employment. Ryanair will launch an appeal to this decision to uphold our contracts of employment.” Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad Ltd