Bearing 6 signatures, on alleged violation of the principle of non-discrimination in employment conditions of women coming back from a maternity leave 

The petitioner alleges that there are infringements and irregularities in the application of the EU law in Bulgaria concerning the principle of equality and protection from discrimination in the area of employment and protection of employees’ rights. The petitioner and other signatories describe their own cases – all are working mothers who have benefited from their lawful maternity leave, but who were penalised by the employer by being refused the right to an equivalent increase in salaries after their return from leave, as they had no annual evaluation of the performance of the post. In the case of increases in the salaries of employees, there is no clear and specific rule as to how this should be done, which results in the possibility of false interpretations by employers and the creation of discriminatory practices in the application of the law. The petitioner asserts that domestic legislation should comply with the EU acts on non-discrimination. She cites a number of them: the Employment Framework Directive (Directive 2000/78/EU), Directive 2006/54/EU (recast) prohibiting discrimination on the grounds of sex in employment and occupation, including occupational pension schemes, the European Parliament resolution of 20 May 2015 on maternity leave (2015/2655 (RSP)) and many international binding acts to which Bulgaria is part (for instance European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women)..