Part-time employee: what is the minimum weekly working time?
Verified 03 October 2023 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
Your part-time work contract is necessarily shorter than your full-time contract. The minimum weekly working time depends on the nature of your contract. Derogations from the minimum weekly working time are available. We present you the information to know according to your situation.
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General case
Your part-time work contract must respect a minimum weekly working time.
That's the collective agreement (or the extended branch agreement) which lays down provisions on minimum working hours.
If there is no specification in the agreement or agreement, you must work for a minimum ofat least 24 hours per week as a part-time employee (in DTA: titleContent or CSD: titleContent).
CDD of up to 7 days
You can work less than 24 hours per week (minimum weekly legal duration) if your CSD: titleContent not more than 7 days.
Replacement of absent employee
You can work less than 24 hours per week (minimum weekly legal duration) if you are replacing an absent employee (regardless of the reason for the suspension the contract of the employee being replaced).
Derogation requested by the employee
Personal Constraints
A minimum period of time less than the applicable period in the company may be set at your request.
Your request must be written and substantiated, i.e. it must contain your personal constraints (health or family reasons, in particular).
A sample letter is available:
Request for derogation from the minimum working time for part-time work
Please note
Your employer is not obliged to accept your request.
Cumulation of activities
At your request, a minimum period of time less than the applicable period in the company may be set to allow you to combine several activities.
This allows you to achieve an overall length of service equal to full time or at least equal to the minimum working time.
Your request to your employer must be in writing and substantiated.
A sample letter is available:
Request for derogation from the minimum working time for part-time work
Please note
Your employer is not obliged to accept your request.
Continuation of studies
You can work less than 24 hours per week (minimum weekly legal duration) if you continue your studies while having a professional activity.
You must be less than 26 yrs.
You must then apply to your employer.
Your request to your employer must be in writing and substantiated.
A sample letter is available:
Request for derogation from the minimum working time for part-time work
Please note
Your employer is not obliged to accept your request.
Employee of an individual employer
As a employee employed directly by an individual, you do not have to respect a minimum weekly working time.
Insertion contract (CDDI)
Your insertion contract (CDDI) must have a minimum weekly duration ofat least 20 hours per week.
Contract of insertion by economic activity (IAE)
Your insertion through economic activity (IAE) contract must be for a weekly period ofat least 20 hours per week.
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For further information
Telephone administrative information - Allo Public Service
For more information on this topic, you can contact Allô Service Public.
Attention: the service does not have access to users' personal files and cannot therefore provide information on their status.
He does not respond questions relating to unemployment compensation and representations to France Labor (formerly Pôle emploi), the officials or contractual of the fpublic service, the amount or payment of contributions social, wage or management.
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The informants who answer you belong to the ministry responsible for labor.