Increase in Additional Contribution for Short-Term Temporary Contracts

 

As of January 1, 2025, the additional contribution that employers must pay when terminating temporary contracts lasting less than 30 days has risen from €31.22 to €32.60. This increase is due to the 4.4% rise in minimum contribution bases, aligned with the increase in the Minimum Wage (SMI).

The measure, introduced by the 2021 labour reform, aims to tackle temporary employment and excessive job rotation by penalising the use of very short-term contracts.

Which contracts are affected?

The additional contribution applies only to temporary contracts lasting 30 days or less, with important exceptions. It does not apply to:

• Replacement contracts.

• Training and apprenticeship contracts.

• Dual training contracts (training in alternation).

• Contracts within the Special Scheme for Agricultural Workers.

• Contracts under the Special Scheme for Household Employees.

• Contracts in the Special Scheme for Coal Mining.

Thus, training contracts and contracts in special sectors are excluded from this surcharge.

Recent data on temporary hiring

According to SEPE statistics for March 2025, out of the 1,166,601 contracts signed:

• 32.6% lasted one month or less (380,741 contracts).

  • 22.1% lasted one week or less (258,614 contracts).

  • 4.8% lasted between 8 and 15 days (55,732 contracts).

  • 5.7% lasted between 16 days and one month (66,385 contracts).

Regarding permanent hiring:

• 508,662 permanent contracts were signed, representing 43.60% of the total, a 0.7% increase compared to March 2024.

• Among permanent contracts:

  • 236,881 were full-time (+6.4%).

  • 121,598 were part-time (+2.8%).

  • 144,183 were permanent-discontinuous (-8.9%).

Meanwhile, temporary contracts totalled 657,939, 6.3% more than the previous March, accounting for 56.4% of all contracts.

The increase in the additional contribution seeks to discourage the abusive use of short-term temporary contracts and to promote more stable employment relationships. Correct compliance with this measure is essential to meet new contribution obligations and avoid legal or financial risks for companies.