When workers are on fixed-term contracts, action is needed to ensure that they do not suffer unjustified discrimination. In addition, abuse of successive fixed-term contracts between the same employer and employee for the same work has to be prevented.
These are the two main aims of the EU Directive regulating this issue (1999/70/EC). It is based on a Framework Agreement between Europe’s trade unions and employers. Such framework agreements are an important part of the EU social dialogue.
The directive and the agreement on fixed-term work forbid employers to treat fixed-term workers less favourably than permanent workers, unless different treatment can be justified on objective grounds. To prevent abuse of successive fixed-term contracts, EU Member States, after consultation with the social partners, must put in place one or more of the following limits:
- the objective reasons that would justify the renewal of fixed-term contracts or relationships
- the maximum total duration of successive fixed-term employment contracts and relationships
- the permitted number of renewals.
Member States must also lay down penalties for infringements. Special clauses limit the potential administrative burdens on small and medium enterprises. Member States may also decide that the agreement does not apply to initial vocational training and apprenticeships and/or to workers on specific public or publicly-supported training, integration and vocational retraining programmes.
The agreement applies to fixed-term workers, including seasonal workers, who have an employment contract or relationship as defined in law, collective agreement or practice in each Member State.
The text of the Fixed-Term Work Directive, the social partner consultation documents and implementation reports are available below.
Directives
- Directive 1999/70/EC on the Framework Agreement on fixed-term work concluded by ETUC, UNICE and CEEP
Preparatory Documents
- Flexibility in working time and security for workers: First phase of consultation with the social partners in accordance with article 3 of the social policy agreement annexed to the Treaty SEC (1995) 1540/3
- Deuxième phase de consultation avec les partenaires sociaux SEC (1996) 658
- Proposal for a directive concerning the Framework Agreement on Fixed-term Work concluded by UNICE, CEEP and the ETUC COM (1999) 203
Implementation Reports
- Commission Staff Working Document - National implementation measures of Directive 1999/70/EC (EU-15) SEC (2006) 1074
- Commission Staff Working Document - National implementation measures of Directive 1999/70/EC (EU-10) SEC (2008) 2485
Studies
- Implementation Report on Directive 1999/70/EC concerning the Framework Agreement on fixed-term work concluded by UNICE, CEEP and ETUC (Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, slovenia and Slovakia) (March 2007)
- Reports (Executive Summaries) on the implementation of Directive 1999/70/EC in Bulgaria and in Romania (2009)