Ryanair has lost a Belgian court case that may have wider implications for the EU as it battles over rights for cross-border workers.
A court in Charleroi ruled in favour of three Belgian employees who claimed their 2002 dismissal by Ryanair was an infringement of Belgian labour laws.
The company claimed the three were hired on Irish contracts and their sacking was legal under Irish law.
Under Irish law, the company argued it was within its rights to let the three cabin staff employees go after they served a one-year trial period. Lawyers for the employees claimed that under Belgian law the trial period for workers is only six months, after which they have full job protection.
Ryanair pointed out that the three signed contracts drawn up in Dublin and worked on planes that are registered in Ireland.
However, the judge found that the workers were based at the company's hub in Charleroi and therefore were entitled to the protection offered under Belgian law, and to other benefits such as holiday and overtime payments that were not given under Irish legislation.
"These three former employees were let go at the end of their probation period in accordance with their contract of employment," said Ryanair 's Director of Personnel Mr Eddie Wilson.
"Ryanair will launch an appeal to this decision in order to uphold our contracts of employment."
AP