Judgment — ECLI:EU:C:2012:39
Date: 2012-01-26
Language of the case: German
Court formation: Second Chamber
Subject matter: Social Policy
Procedure: Reference for a preliminary ruling
Origin: Germany

Summary of the Judgment Social policy —Framework agreement on fixed-term work concluded by ETUC, UNICE and CEEP — Directive 1999/70 — Measures to prevent abuse of successive fixed-term contracts — Objective reasons liable to justify the renewal of such contracts — Application to successive fixed-term contracts in the public sector — Justification (Council Directive 1999/70, Annex, Clause 5(1)(a)) Clause 5(1)(a) of the Framework Agreement on fixed-term work, which is set out in the Annex to Directive 1999/70 concerning the Framework Agreement on fixed-term work concluded by ETUC, UNICE and CEEP, must be interpreted as meaning that a temporary need for replacement staff, provided for by national legislation allowing a fixed-term contract to be concluded when the worker is to replace another worker, may, in principle, constitute an objective reason under that clause. The mere fact that an employer may have to employ temporary replacements on a recurring, or even permanent, basis and that those replacements may also be covered by the hiring of employees under employment contracts of indefinite duration does not mean that there is no objective reason under clause 5(1)(a) of the Framework Agreement or that there is abuse within the meaning of that clause. However, in the assessment of the issue whether the renewal of fixed-term employment contracts or relationships is justified by such an objective reason, the authorities of the Member States must, for matters falling within their sphere of competence, take account of all the circumstances of the case, including the number and cumulative duration of the fixed-term employment contracts or relationships concluded in the past with the same employer. (see para. 56, operative part)