What does EU LGBTQ+ rights ruling mean for self-employed workers?
A European court has upheld the rights of self-employed LGBTQ+ workers across the EU in a ruling on a Polish case brought by a gay freelance TV editor who said he was wrongfully dismissed by the public broadcaster over his sexuality.
The ruling by the Luxembourg-based Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) last week said self-employed workers should have the same protections against workplace discrimination as permanent employees.
A Polish court hearing the editor’s demand for compensation went to the CJEU to seek clarification on whether Poland’s anti-discrimination act protects business-to business contractors, or if a company has broad freedom when deciding who to contract.
The ruling could add to tension between Warsaw and Brussels over EU values, particularly when it comes to LGBTQ+ rights in Poland.
