AUSTRIA.

The document discusses a case from the Austrian Supreme Court regarding the circumvention of maternity protection laws through fixed-term employment contracts. The court ruled that the expiry of a fixed-term contract is suspended upon an employee's pregnancy announcement, unless there are objectively justified reasons for the fixed term. The document also outlines the legal protections for pregnant employees in Austria, including restrictions on termination and the combination of trial and probation periods in employment contracts. The decision emphasizes the importance of clearly defining the purpose of fixed-term contracts to avoid circumventing maternity protections. [Extracted from the article]