Transfer of undertakings: Transfers directive covers one-person cleaning operation

The "Business Transfers" Directive covers a situation in which an employer contracts-out cleaning operations which were previously performed in-house, even though prior to the transfer the work was being done by only one employee, rules the European Court of Justice in Schmidt v Spar-und Leihkasse der früheren Ämter Bordesholm, Kiel und Cronshagen.

Mrs Schmidt was employed by a German savings bank as the only cleaner at one of its branch offices.