The Rise of Temporary Workers in France

Despite the fact that permanent employment contracts (CDI) make up the majority of employment in France, the use of temporary work contracts has continued to rise. The traditional distinction between stable permanent jobs on the one hand and precarious temporary contracts on the other is no longer valid today. Source https://euworkers.fr/

The emergence of temporary work contracts has many causes. These include replacing a worker on maternity, paternity or sick leave; covering temporary increases in activity; seasonal work; and specific jobs that are by nature not long-term (such as repairing a railway line). It also allows companies to hire employees from abroad, especially from countries with weak labour laws.

The Future of Temporary Work: Predictions and Trends in France

For the workers themselves, it has resulted in significant professional instability. In the event of termination of a contract, these people have less chance of finding a new job and can find themselves facing economic hardship (see this article). The segmentation of the French labor market into those with fixed-term contracts or temporary work contracts has major social consequences, as shown by this research: people who work only on short-term contracts struggle to get permanent positions, they receive fewer opportunities for on-the-job training and are more vulnerable to an economic negative shock.

The new law aims to encourage the return to permanent employment by making it obligatory for an employer or beneficiary company, at the end of a contract period, to offer a position to perform similar functions. This offer must be made in writing, and the person who refuses it may be deprived of public unemployment benefits.