Fixed-term contract: mandatory writing and successive contracts
Have each fixed-term contract signed before work starts. Check contract history before any renewal.
Articles 9 to 11 of the July 3, 1978 law require individual written documentation specifying the end date or clearly defined work. Without this writing, indefinite-term employment rules apply, except for sector-specific exceptions. The law was published August 22, 1978.
Uninterrupted succession attributable to the worker is presumed to constitute indefinite employment, unless justified by the nature of work or legitimate cause. Article 10bis allows a maximum of four fixed-term contracts, each at least three months, over two years total. With prior authorization from Labor Law Enforcement, each fixed-term contract must last at least six months and the total cannot exceed three years.
The fixed-term contract expires normally without notice. Work continuation after its end normally triggers indefinite-term employment rules. A succession mixing fixed-term and replacement contracts must also be subject to separate review.