A Belgian branch of Dutch department store Hema was wrong to sack a woman worker for wearing a headscarf, a Belgian industrial tribunal ruled on Wednesday.

The woman had worked for the store in Genk for two months wearing a headscarf but was then sacked for refusing to remove it after complaints from customers.
The tribunal ordered Hema to pay the 21-year-old woman six month’s salary – €9,000 – in compensation.
The company has since drawn up formal clothing requirements for its Belgian stores, news agency ANP said.