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Types of Job Contracts in France
Understand the various types of job contract that apply in France...
Contracts of employment fall into two main categories:
- Contrat à Durée Indéterminée (CDI): contracts with an unlimited term
- Contrat à Durée Déterminée (CDD): fixed-term contracts
- Also, the Contrat de Travail à Temps Partiel (Part time Job Contract)
Contrat à Durée Indéterminée (CDI)
This is a permanent job contract with no end-date. Employment usually begins with a two- to three-month trial period, which can be renewed.
A written job contract is not compulsory (a verbal agreement can be sufficient) unless the convention collective stipulates one, although the employer must inform the employee in writing of the primary responsibilities of the job. The contract for part-time CDI posts must in writing.
- For more information from Service Public: Click here (in French)
Either party may choose to end the contract. The notice period must be adhered to.
- For more information from Service Public: Click here (in French)
Contrat Initiative-Emploi Rénové (Renewed Employment Contract)
This contract is intended to encourage the employment of those having difficulty finding work for social and professional reasons.
Annually, the regional Préfecture will determine categories of people eligible for this contract. Employers are entitled to partial reimbursement of training and employment costs.
Contrat à Durée Déterminée (CDD)
This is a fixed-term contract for a specific duration of employment. It can be renewed once. There is no minimum time-period, however the length of a CDD cannot exceed the maximum authorised length, which is between 9-24 months depending on contract type. After this period, the employment must cease or the contract be transferred to a CDI. The employee's rights and obligations are identical to those of a person with a CDI.
A CDD can only be used in the following situations:
- Seasonal work
- To replace an employee who is absent for illness, maternity, holiday, training or parental leave
- In the case of state-funded contracts
- To accommodate temporary increased staffing needs
Note: If a company has terminated a CDD contract for financial reasons (licenciement économique), it is possible to employ a person in the same position in the six months following the redundancy.
- A CDD cannot be given for jobs considered dangerous. For a list: Click here (in French)
CDD contracts must be in writing (in French). They must include the start and end date of the contract, or the minimum duration if it doesn’t have exact dates. Length of trial period, name of the person who is being replaced, job title, salary, convention collective and caisse de retraite complémentaire must also be included.
Note: if the employer fails to give the employee a copy of the contract within two working days, the CDD is automatically transformed into a CDI.
- For more information on CDD contracts: Click here (in French)
At the end of the contract, the employee has the right to a bonus, which should be at least 10 percent of the total gross salary, unless the convention collectif imposes a lower percentage.
- For more information: Click here (in French)
Contrat de Travail Temporaire ou d’Intérim (Temporary/Agency Job Contracts)
The contract conditions are almost the same as for a CDD except that there are three parties involved, the employer, the employee and the employment agency. Companies can only use temporary employees for short-term activities. The employee is hired and paid for each placement by the agency.
- For more information: Click here (in French)
In most cases the length of the job contract cannot exceed 18 months, but there are exceptions to this.
- For more information: Click here (in French)
At the end of the contract, the employee has the right to a bonus, which should be at least 10 percent of the total gross salary.
- For more information: Click here (in French)
Contrat de Travail CDD Senior
This is a fixed term contract for people aged 57 and over who have been looking for a job for more than three months. The employee has an 18 month contract renewable for a further 18 months, only if the CDD is shorter than three months. It cannot be renewed.
- For more information: Click here (in French)
Emploi d'Avenir (Employment for the Future)
This contract is intended for unemployed persons aged 16 to 25, with a niveau bac or less, who has serious difficulties to enter on the job market. Special conditions apply to disabled persons.
- For more information: Click here (in French)
The contract can be a CDI or a CDD. For a CDD, the minimum period is one year, and it can be maximum three years, including renewals. It can be part time, or full time.
For a certain time (up to three years), the young employee will be monitored by both a representative of Cap emploi and a mentor within the company. The three must meet regularly.
Contrat de Travail à Temps Partiel (Part time Job Contract)
This contract can exist as a CDI or a CDD and can apply to any employee who works less than 35 hours a week. The annual total cannot exceed 1,607 hours.
- For more information: Click here (in French)
A part-time job contract must always be in writing and should mention the following:
- Employee's job title
- Salary
- Monthly or weekly amount of hours
- The maximum overtime allowed
- Weekly or monthly division of work time
- When and how weekly or monthly hours can be modified
The employer must give seven days notice to change the times that the employee is expected to work. The employee can refuse any modification unless it is stipulated in the job contract.
If the employee works more than two hours overtime for twelve consecutive weeks or for twelve out of fifteen weeks the job contract must be changed to allow for the extra hours. Seven days notice is required and the employee must agree to any changes.
- For more information: Click here (in French)
Ending an Employment Contract
Regardless of the type of job contract, the employer has to give the following documents to the employee at the end of the contract:
- Certificate stating position held (certificat de travail)
- A document for the Pôle emploi (Attestation destinée à Pôle emploi), allowing the person to claim unemployment benefits
- Solde de tout compte
Further Information
- The French government website, Service-Public has comprehensive information: Click here (in French)
- Ministère de Travail, Cohésion Sociale et Logement (Ministry of employment)
- French unemployment organisation Pôle Emploi
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