Sabine Von Colson and Elisabeth Kamann were German social workers who applied to work in men's prisons run by the State of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Von Colson and Kamann appealed the decision at the Arbeitsgericht (Labour Tribunal).

The claimants argued that they had a directly effective right to demand that the court order the employer to appoint her.

Instead of this or compensation, they were awarded only "reliance losses" as a remedy, equivalent to the travel costs incurred by going to the interview (7.20 DM).

The Court also required the remedy to be sufficient to ensure the effectiveness of Community (now EU) law.