Huet v Université de Bretagne occidentale is a case referred to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) from the administrative court in Rennes concerning the French equivalent of the Fixed-term Employees Regulations and makes an important practical point. The background was that Mr Huet had a series of fixed term contracts as a researcher at the université de Bretagne occidentale for a total period of six years. He was then given a permanent contract – but with a different title and slightly reduced pay, although his duties remained the same. He asked for his contract to be amended and brought a legal challenge when his request was refused.

The ECJ decided that there is no rule that fixed term contracts have to be converted into a permanent contract in identical terms once they have been renewed for longer than four years. Continue reading →