Direktiv 79/7 giver dog medlemsstaterne mulighed for at bevare visse afvigelser fra lighedsprincippet og udelukker især efterladtepensioner og familieydelser fra sit anvendelsesområde.
However, Directive 79/7 specifies that Member States may continue to apply certain derogations from the principle of equality and excludes, for example, survivors' benefits and family allowances from its field of application.