Essential points

  • The law regulating fixed-term employees in Ireland is the Protection of Employees (Fixed-Term Work) Act 2003.
  • The protections contained in the Act are in addition to the provisions in the Unfair Dismissals Acts 1977 to 2015.
  • The following categories of workers are exempt from the scope of the Act: 
    • trainee members of An Garda Siochana
    • members of the Defence Forces
    • nurses in training 
    • agency workers
    • employees in initial vocational training relationships or apprenticeship schemes, and employees with a contract of employment which has been concluded within the framework of a specific public or publicly supported training, integration or vocational retraining programme.

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​While every care has been taken in compiling this content, the CIPD cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions. These notes are not intended to be a substitute for specific legal advice.

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