De Unie, in your interest

What is a temporary employment contract?

If you as an employee receive wages and are employed by an employer, then you have an employment contract. This is a reciprocal agreement between you and your employer, which means that the rights and obligations apply to both you and your employer. A temporary employment contract contains at least the same points as a standard employment contract, except that a temporary contract only applies for a fixed period of time. This can be for a few months, but also for a year or for the duration of a project.

A fixed-term employment contract
A temporary contract cannot usually be terminated prematurely and therefore ends automatically. This is called 'by operation of law'. When you enter into an employment contract for a definite period of time, this can also be an agreement without an end date. This is often done for temporary projects. For example, the temporary employment contract states that you have been hired for the duration of the activities of the project concerned. Once you have completed the work, the agreement will end.

The notice period
If you and your employer conclude a fixed-term employment contract that lasts longer than 6 months, the notice period or obligation to notify applies. This means that the employer must notify in time whether or not the employment contract will be extended afterwards. And if so, under what conditions. This must be done in writing no later than 1 month before the end of your contract.