Fixed-term Work Directive 1999


The Fixed-term Work Directive is one of three EU Directives that regulate atypical work. Alongside the Part-time Work Directive and the Agency Work Directive its aim is to ensure that people who have not contracted for permanent jobs are nevertheless guaranteed a minimum level of equal treatment compared to full-time permanent staff. Fixed-term work contracts purport to be of limited duration, but staff with such contracts can claim that they are permanent after a maximum of four years. Member states in the European union can, and usually do, go beyond the minimum.

Content

Article 1 of the Directive states its purpose to enforce the framework agreement between the ETUC, the UNICE and the CEEP. This gives rise to the various provisions on fixed-term worker rights in the Directive.

EU case law

In UK labour law, the ERA 1996 sections 95, 136, 235 already regulated fixed-term work for the purpose of unfair dismissal. In Ford v Warwickshire CC the House of Lords held that a teacher who was employed each year, but who always continued to work after the summer break, did count as having continuous employment for the purpose of an unfair dismissal claim.
The Fixed-term Employees Regulations 2002 implemented the Directive.