Employment Contracts in France

Summary: Provides an overview of the three basic types of employment contracts in France.

Expat Topics - Employment Contracts in France

Work Contracts in France There are three different types of work "contracts" in France: Temporary employment contracts, Fixed term employment contracts and Permanent employment contracts.

Temporary Employment Contracts - Issued to/through a temp agency. Total time of employment cannot be longer than 18 months, and shorter contracts can be renewed once. Seasonal work, replacement of employees on a temporary basis or temporary increases in business are examples of grounds for issuance of temporary employment contracts.

Fixed Term Contracts - A clearly defined time period that cannot exceed 2 years. Probationary periods are limited to not more than 2 weeks or one month for contracts of less than six months or more than six months, respectively.

Permanent Contracts - This is a contract with no end date stipulated. Details such as length of probationary period, social security information, compensation, etc. Either party can end the contract, and a notice period is included in the contract.

***Remember that many of these details are subject to change, so always contact the French embassy in D.C. or the nearest consulate general.

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