MEMBERSHIP OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

Title: Membership of the European Union

Membership of the European Union

Since the 1970s, 13 pieces of legislation were adopted in total in order to ensure a fair and equal treatment for men and women at work (Simon, 2005). These laws cover many areas that include the treatment with equality when going for a job, no discrimination at work, providing protection to the female workers who are pregnant and the mothers who breast feed and the right to maternity leave and parental leave.

Equal treatment of men and women

The European continent suffered much devastation from the effects of World War II, and to renew attempts to peace after that, leaders throughout the region 3 organizations: the European Council, European Union (previously known as Steel and Coal Community) and afterwards the Organization responsible for the cooperation and the security of Europe (sometimes referred to as the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe).

Combating other forms of discrimination at work

The laws on equal treatment between men and women were completed in 2000 by a new EU law which prohibits inequity on all other grounds (Keith, 2005). On the basis of these laws it is prohibited to differentiate against someone because of

age

Belief or religion

Sex Disability

ethnicity

disability

These are the areas of gender favouritism which are integrated in the Treaty of Amsterdam in the European Union, fields where the EU can act to prevent favouritism(Beale, 2003). Discrimination can also be the result of a combination of different reasons, for example due to age and sex of a person.

Laws that protect against discrimination because of ethnicity or race (e.g. with respect to blacks) also cover not only employment also other areas of every day life where irregular treatment may occur, for example at school, housing, access to goods, health care, services, unequal treatment ...