DO says Securitas hijab ban discriminated against job applicant

Sweden's Equality Ombudsman says Securitas discriminated against a woman who was told during recruitment that she could not wear a hijab with the company's security-guard uniform.

The woman had applied for a security-guard job. The recruitment process ended after she was informed of the rule, according to DO's finding.

DO says Securitas's policy specifically prohibits religious symbols and garments with the uniform. In the ombudsman's view, that wording does not create the general workplace-neutrality rule required by EU case law and therefore breaches Sweden's ban on discrimination.

EU law can permit a general rule against visible political, philosophical or religious symbols if it is applied without distinction. Even then, DO notes, the rule may amount to indirect discrimination unless it serves a legitimate aim and is appropriate and necessary.

The ombudsman is seeking SEK 75,000 in compensation for the applicant. Securitas has until September 22 to respond. If the company does not agree to pay, DO may ask the Labour Court to decide the case. The finding is therefore not a court judgment.

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