The article presents the general framework of fight against discrimination based on religion and religious beliefs, as adopted and applied by Austrian authorities. The main research method used in the article is the dogmatic method. The author analyses the request of the Supreme Court of Austria for a preliminary ruling on legal questions concerning the privileged regulation of the rights of members of the Evangelical Churches of the Augsburg and Helvetic Confessions, the Old Catholic Church and the Evangelical Methodist Church on Good Friday. The article is divided into seven parts, in which the author presents the position of the parties and the CJEU in cases concerning direct discrimination in connection with work and remuneration as well as the obligations of authorities of EU Member States. The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU and Directive 2000/78 of 27 November 2000 preclude the privileged treatment by national provisions of employment law only of members of the churches listed above. A legal regulation of this kind has been found to be a case of direct discrimination on the basis of religion. The national legislation granting additional remuneration for work on religious holidays cannot – according to the Court of Justice of the European Union – be considered a positive action aimed at ensuring full equality for persons employed on religious holidays.