Labour law strategies against current forms of discrimination,
5 March 2027, Barcelona, CCOO Catalunya

European Labour Law Conference – save the date
Languages with simultaneous interpretation: English, German, French, Spanish

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Download the programm in English, French, German, Spanish

European_Labour_Law_Conference_2027_Programme – English Herunterladen

Labour law strategies against current forms of discrimination – 5 March 2027, Barcelona, CCOO Catalunya

European Labourlaw Conference

Simultaneous interpretation: Spanish, English, French, German, Spanish
Duration: 09:00 – 18:30

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Download the programme in English, French, German, Spanish

European_Labour_Law_Conference_2027_Programme – English

Herunterladen

08:30 – 09:00 Registration

09:00 – 11:00

Opening Remarks: Strategic Enforcement of Anti-Discrimination Law in Europe

Welcome greatings

– Belen Lopez Sanchez, Secretaria General CCOO Catalunya

– Ramon Gonzalez Monroy, Secretario General CCOO.Servicios

Block 1: Overview – historical overview, legislation

1.1. Does EU Antidiscrimination Law protect against trade union and political discrimination?
– Silvia Borelli, Labour Law Professor at the University of Ferrara

1.2. Positive Obligations and Equality by Design – strengthening anti-discrimination protections by reference to emerging case law on reasonable accommodation
– Sharon Dillon-Lyons, Barrister, Bar of Ireland

1.3. From Principle to Proof: Transposing the EU Pay Transparency Directive – Lessons from Lithuania
– Dr. Tomas Bagdanskis, Managing Partner, Attorney-at-Law, WIDEN (Lithuania); Professor of Practice, Vilnius University Faculty of Law
This session provides an overview of anti-discrimination law in employment at European and national levels. It covers key EU directives, case law, equal pay, reasonable accommodation and enforcement mechanisms, with a focus on current legal protections and workplace practices. Current challenges and opportunities for strengthening equality and non-discrimination will also be discussed.
11:00 – 11:30 Break

11:30 – 13:00

Block 2: Litigation and jurisprudence on different fields of discrimination – first part

Chair: Tamar Gabisonia, lawyer, Georgia

2.1 Navigating the Shadows: Constructive Knowledge and Judicial Responses to Reasonable Accommodation for Invisible Disabilities in the Workplace
– Petr Polák, Policy Officer, European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA)

2.2. Gender Discrimination & Equal Pay
– Dr. Rüdiger Helm, lawyer, Munich, Germany

2.3. When proxies are used to discriminate based on ethnic origin or broader migration status
– Eddie Omar Rosenberg Khawaja, Attorney at Law and owner of Rosenberg Khawaja Law Firm, Denmark

This session will examine key European and national jurisprudence on discrimination based on gender, ethnic origin and migration status, as well as disability and chronic illness. Participants will explore legal standards governing equal treatment in employment, including equal pay, access to employment, reasonable accommodation, career progression, and protection from discriminatory practices. Through the analysis of landmark cases and practical examples, the session will discuss evidentiary challenges, burden of proof, available remedies, and the role of strategic litigation in advancing workplace equality and combating systemic discrimination.

13:00 – 14:30 Lunch

14:30-16:00

Block 3: Litigation and jurisprudence on different fields of discrimination – second part

– Chair: Jeffrey Vogt, President of the International Lawyers Assisting Workers Network

3.1. Age discrimination
– Macarena Martínez Miranda, Magistrada especialista de la Sala de lo Social del Tribunal Superior de Justicia de Cataluña

3.2. Religion, Equality and Employment: Lessons from European Case Law

– Imane El Morabet, Deputy Head of the Protection Department at Unia and Coordinator of the Legal Clinic at Ghent University

3.3. Automated Decisions, Error and Discrimination

– Ignasi Beltran de Heredia Ruiz. Full Professor of Labour and Social Security Law, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC)

Building on the previous session, this block will focus on both emerging and frequently litigated forms of workplace discrimination. Participants will examine legal developments concerning age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, and trade union membership, as well as the growing challenges posed by artificial intelligence, algorithmic management, and structural discrimination. The session will explore how anti-discrimination law is adapting to evolving labour markets, new technologies, and changing workplace realities, while identifying effective legal and policy responses to ensure equal treatment and the protection of fundamental rights at work.

16:00 – 16:15 Break

16:15 – 17:45

Block 4 Collective agreements and collective action to Tackle Discrimination in Employment (Panel discussion)

Chair: Isabel Eder, head of the department for law and diversity, DGB

– Prof. Johanna Wenkebach, legal head of IGM, Frankfurt, Germany

Collective agreement and collective labour action are powerful tools for addressing workplace discrimination and promoting equality, dignity, and decent work. While individual complaints remain important, many forms of discrimination are systemic and require collective solutions. Through collective bargaining, trade union representation, social dialogue, workplace campaigns, strategic litigation, and collective complaints, workers and their representatives can play a key role in tackling structural inequalities.

This session will examine how collective labour action, including collective bargaining and agreements can be used to prevent, identify, and remedy discrimination in employment. Drawing on international and national labour standards, comparative practices, and practical examples, participants will explore effective legal and policy tools, exchange experiences, and identify ways to strengthen collective labour rights as a means of advancing workplace equality and inclusion.

17:45 – 18:00 Conference Wrap-Up

18:00 End of the conference

Co-organisers and supporters

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REGISTRATION

registration fees

• 120 EURO For lawyers and others who need a participation certificate after the conference:

• 80 EURO For all others (lawyers, judges, …):

• 50 EURO Low Income reduced fee ( for students, trainee lawyers, lawyers/trade union legal secretaries in their first two years of practice, and those who have left the profession (retirees and pensioners with no additional earned income)

Timely registration and payment of the registration fee are required.

Please register now vie the following link.

The conference room accommodates a maximum of 80 participants. Early booking is recommended. Reservations must be made exclusively via the registration form, which can be filled out using the provided link.

REGISTRATIONLINK

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Programme on Saturday, 6 March 2027

On Saturday, 6 March 2027, 10.00 – 13.00, conference participants will have the opportunity to attend an informal get-together, during which
– they can exchange views on the conference
– raise points that could not be addressed during the conference
– develop proposals for future ELW Network events
– networks with other colleagues
– and assign tasks for the ELW Network’s future work.

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Following this meeting, those who wish to do so can have lunch at a nearby tapas bar.

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After lunch, colleagues from the CCOO will organise a historical city tour lastingapproximately two hours for those interested.

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Those who are interested can sign up for the three events on a form which will be sent to all who have registered

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The European Lawyers Network for Workers aims to unite lawyers and legal academics committed to work for trade unions and workers across Europe. It was founded in 2013 and has members in Belgium, England, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, and Turkey. It cooperates with many trade unions in Europe, with the ETUC and the ETUI.

The objective of the Network is to support workers, workers representatives (for example works councils) and trade unions in advancing their interests. The Network promotes the transfer of knowledge among its members especially with regard to labour law in the European Union.

With this in mind, this website represents an opportunity to share information on trade unions’ strategies and on courts’ decisions on both traditional labour law issues and on the so-called “new” forms of work”.
Similarly, the Network wishes to draw attention to developments in national and EU labour law which affect the protection of workers.

Moreover, the Network periodically organises international conferences with the intention to define the state of labour law, identifying best practices, and sharing expertise.

The members of the Network consider their work as a contribution to the promotion of the rights of workers, worker representatives and trade unions.
The members of the Network, in their legal practices, mainly represent workers, worker representatives and trade unions. The representation of employers is an exception.

Practising lawyers, joint practices/partnerships of practising lawyers are eligible to be members. Non-practising lawyers may be eligible as well. Organisations other than partnerships of practising lawyers are not eligible to be members.