Is an employee's employment contract necessarily written?

Verified 11 May 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

It depends on the nature of the employment contract of the employee, hired in FIXED-TERM CONTRACT: titleContent or DTA: titleContent. We present you the information to know.

FIXED-TERM CONTRACT

The fixed-term contract (fixed-term contract)) must mandatory be concluded in writing.

The following fixed-term employment contracts must also be mandatory concluded in writing  :

If the fixed-term contract has not been concluded in writing, the employment contract may then be requalified, possibly on a full-time permanent contract.

The requalification of the fixed-term contract (i.e. its conversion into a full-time permanent contract) may then be decided by the labor court (CPH) at the request of the employee and subject to conditions.

The employer risks a fine of €3,750 (€7,500 in case of recidivism) if he uses fixed-term contracts or temporary work without a written contract.

FYI  

The written employment contract must be written in French. The foreigners employee may request the translation of his contract into his original language.

A contract template is available:

Template for a fixed-term employment contract (CDD) of an employee

DTA

The

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Full-time permanent contract

As a general rule, a writing is not not required for a full-time permanent contract. However, a collective agreement may provide for writing.

In the absence of mandatory writing, the employer must provide the employee with a copy of the pre-employment declaration (PED).

In practice, and in particular to prevent any conflict or dispute between the employee and the employer, the signing of a contract is always preferable (especially if there is a trial period).

FYI  

The written employment contract must be written in French. The foreigners employee may request the translation of his contract into his original language.

A contract template is available:

Template for an employee's permanent employment contract (CDI)

Part-time permanent contract

The contract of employment of the part-time employee must mandatory be concluded in writing.

If the employer has not written for a part-time permanent employment contract when it should have done so, it risks a fine of €1,500 (€3,000 in case of recurrence).

FYI  

The written employment contract must be written in French. The foreigners employee may request the translation of his contract into his original language.

A contract template is available:

Template for an employee's permanent employment contract (CDI)

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