General rules
The general rules for an employment contract apply but there are also specific rules for service voucher employees:
- A written contract must be drawn up and it must be signed within the first two days of the employment. A verbal contract only is not allowable.
- Your contract must contain the following at the very least: the identities of both parties, the authorisation number from the agency, the starting date of the contract, the end date (if the contract is for a limited period), the number of working hours and the work schedule.
- If you have a permanent contract, it must state how and within what period of time you will be notified of the work schedule. If it is not stated in the contract, you must be notified of this at least 7 days in advance.
Fixed term or permanent
Fixed term
During the first 3 months of employment, you may be offered 1 or more contracts for a fixed period without any obligation to sign a permanent contract. But from the first working day of the fourth month, your contract will automatically become a permanent contract..
- The contract is allowed to be part-time and for less than a third of a full-time week (38 hours).
- The minimum duration of each work period must be at least 3 hours.
Permanent
If you have not been given a permanent contract at the start of your employment, there is an obligation to give you a permanent contract from the first working day of the fourth month. This kind of contract may be both part-time or full-time.
- If you have a permanent contract, the maximum working hours are 38 hours a week.
- If you have a part-time contract, the minimum working hours are 13 hours a week if you also receive additional allowances. In all other cases, you must work at least 10 hours a week.
- The minimum duration of each work period must be at least 3 hours (so you many not be asked to work for less than 3 hours).
