Le droit de la discrimination fondée sur le handicap et l'état de santé et sa contribution à la lutte contre la discrimination multiple ; Το δίκαιο της διάκρισης με βάση την αναπηρία και την κατάσταση της υγείας και η συμβολή του στην καταπολέμηση της πολλαπλής διάκρισης ; The law of discrimination based on disability and health and its contribution to the fight against multiple discrimination

Abstract

Nowadays, the issue of labour discrimination is a complex and living subject matter that raises questions about the adaptedness of the rights that are specifically protected by labour legislation to the situation experienced by employees. Legal writing and case-law in this field are constantly evolving. In the first part of this study, we have considered disability and health condition as prohibited grounds of discrimination. Thus, we first analyzed the social construction of disability. Indeed, contrary to the medical model, the social one moves the problem away from the individual person and places it in the social processes that are linked to human diversity. We have examined the statutory duty of reasonable accommodation provided to persons with disabilities and its implementation by case-law, positive actions and their role against disability based discrimination as well as the explanation of the differences in treatment based on disability. We have studied the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, of 13 December 2006. This Convention has indeed become the core of European legislation and policy on disability, underlining its innovations. Furthermore, beyond the concept of "disability", we have considered the issue of whether illness and unfitness are sufficient to justify a termination or if they are grounds of discrimination. The European legislator does not seem eager to include them in the prohibited discrimination grounds. Our study of the legislation that is protecting against discrimination based on disability has led us to conclude that it has brought solutions in cases where protection against discrimination based on health condition is not regulated. The second part of our study is dedicated to the analysis of multiple discrimination. We have highlighted the ineffectiveness of the European legislation and, thus, that of the majority of legislations of the European Union Member States in fighting against it. We have noted that what should be questioned is the legal ...