Qu'est-ce que Temporary Work Contract ?
Definition
A temporary work contract (contrat intérimaire) is a three-party arrangement in which: a temporary work agency (Adecco, Randstad, Manpower, etc.) employs the temporary worker; the user company (client) directs and supervises the worker's daily activity; and the worker is assigned to the user company for a defined period. The employment contract is between the worker and the agency, not the user company.
In practice
In Belgium, temporary work is regulated by the law of 24 July 1987 and requires a user justification (one of three permitted reasons: replacement of a permanent employee, exceptional work increase, or execution of occasional unusual work). Sectors with their own rules (entertainment, agriculture) may apply different conditions. Temps are entitled to equal pay and conditions as permanent employees doing comparable work at the user company. After a certain period (typically 6–12 months of continuous assignment), the user company may integrate the temp as a permanent employee — this "conversion to CDI" is explicitly encouraged by Belgian regulation. The temp receives holiday pay (double holiday pay), day-off pay, and is covered by the Joint Commission for Temporary Work (Commission Paritaire 322).
Key takeaway
Temporary work offers flexibility for both parties — but Belgian law provides strong protections ensuring temps receive comparable pay and conditions to permanent colleagues doing the same work.
Définitions connexes
Temporary staffing
A form of temporary employment through a staffing agency that places a worker with a client company for a defined period.
Fixed-Term Contract (CDD)
Employment contract with a defined start and end date, used for temporary or specific needs, subject to strict conditions in Belgian law.
RPO (Recruitment Process Outsourcing)
Full or partial outsourcing of the recruitment process to a specialist provider that acts as an embedded HR function.