News In Focus
8 August 2006
Firms can refuse to hire smokers, says EU
It is legally acceptable for companies in European Union countries to refuse to hire smokers, according to the European Commission.
The issue was raised when European Parliament member Catherine Stihler asked the executive about a job advertisement for an Irish call centre which stated that smokers need not apply.
Katharina von Schnurbein, spokeswoman for the Employment and Social Affairs Commissioner Vladimir Spidla, said that anti-discrimination legislation for the workplace covered age, disability, religion or beliefs and sexual orientation and there were no plans to add to this.
Scotland's ban on smoking in public places came into effect in March this year, while the ban on smoking in workplaces in Ireland started in 2004. England is likely to implement a similar ban next year.