Qu'est-ce que Fixed-Term Contract (CDD) ?

Definition

A fixed-term employment contract (CDD — Contrat à Durée Déterminée / Arbeidsovereenkomst van Bepaalde Duur) is an employment contract with a predetermined end date, specifying a precise duration or a specific event that triggers termination (end of a project, return of an absent employee, seasonal peak). It is governed by strict conditions in Belgian labour law to prevent abuse.

In practice

In Belgium, CDDs are subject to significant restrictions: successive CDDs with the same employer are limited to a maximum of four contracts over two years (beyond which conversion to a CDI is automatic unless there is legitimate justification). Early termination before the fixed end date requires serious cause or compensation equivalent to the remaining contract duration. CDDs are appropriate for specific circumstances: replacing an absent employee, responding to an exceptional work peak, or executing a clearly defined time-limited project. From the employer perspective, CDDs offer workforce flexibility; from the employee perspective, they offer fewer protections and less security than CDIs. In Belgium, employees on CDDs have the same individual rights (salary, leave, benefits) as CDI employees for comparable work.

Key takeaway

The CDD is a legitimate flexibility tool for genuinely temporary needs — but Belgian law is strict about its misuse as a substitute for stable employment.