Catalonia publishes guidelines for respecting religious freedom at work
Office employee with a cross. Photo iStock
Southern Europe
The Catalonian authorities have released a guide for employers to give them suggestions on how to respect the religious freedoms of their employees.
The General Office of Religious Affairs of Catalonia published the document to ensure respect for religious freedom and conscience at the workplace. In addition, it wants to improve the relationship between co-workers with different religions. That is reported by Evangelical Focus.
Labour lawyer Albert Toledo wrote the document. In it, he analyses how organisations can address the issue of wearing religious clothing and symbols at work, how to deal with different wishes for breaks on religious holidays and the dilemma of conscientious objection.
Toledo explains that the goal of the document is “to make the execution of the employment contract compatible with the religious convictions of the worker.”
Obligations
According to the Religious Affairs Department of Catalonia, the document is not more than guidelines. It stresses that it does not have any legal powers. Instead, “it is about helping to raise awareness of the importance of taking into account the religious dimension in the workplace and the rights of workers in this area.”
According to the Department, the guideline is meant for employers and religious communities. If they better understand each other, this might prevent conflicts. Toledo says that the public administration and companies must “work to prevent the worker from having to choose between fulfilling his work obligations and fulfilling his religious obligations.”
Related Articles
