Request for a preliminary ruling from the Landesarbeitsgericht Hamm (Germany) lodged on 29 May 2017 — Surjit Singh Bedi v Federal Republic of Germany, Federal Republic of Germany acting on behalf of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

(Case C-312/17)

Language of the case: German

Referring court

Landesarbeitsgericht Hamm

Parties to the main proceedings

Applicant: Surjit Singh Bedi

Defendants: Federal Republic of Germany, Federal Republic of Germany acting on behalf of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Question referred

Is Article 2(2) of Directive 2000/78/EC ¹ establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation to be interpreted as precluding a provision in a collective agreement under which the receipt of interim assistance — granted, on the basis of the basic remuneration laid down in the collective agreement, with the aim of ensuring a reasonable means of subsistence for workers who have lost their jobs until they are able to secure financial protection through entitlement to a pension under the statutory pension scheme — ends once the worker concerned is entitled to receive an early retirement pension, and the application of which is based on the possibility of receiving an early retirement pension on grounds of disability?

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¹ Council Directive 2000/78/EC of 27 November 2000 establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation (OJ 2000 L 303, p. 16).