European Union – Employment. Clause 4(1) of the framework agreement on fixed-term work concluded on 18 March 1999, annexed to Council Directive (EC) 1999/70 should be interpreted as not precluding national legislation which did not provide for any compensation to be paid to workers employed under a fixed-term contract entered into in order to cover a post temporarily while the selection or promotion procedure to fill the post permanently took place, such as the temporary replacement contract at issue in the main proceedings, on expiry of the term for which that contract had been concluded, whereas compensation was payable to permanent workers where their employment contract was terminated on objective grounds. The Court of Justice of the European Union so held in a preliminary ruling in proceedings concerning the expiry of the temporary replacement contract under which the applicant employee had been engaged by the respondent agency.