Seminar Evaluates Economic and Legal Impact of Ruptures Conventionnelles on French Employment

A seminar scheduled for March 17, 2026, will critically assess the ‘ruptures conventionnelles’ mechanism in France, which allows negotiated termination of indefinite contracts (CDI). Introduced in 2008, this method has become increasingly prevalent, with 515,000 terminations through ruptures conventionnelles recorded in 2024, making it the third most common termination approach. Experts including Gilbert Cette, President of the Council for Retirement Orientation, and Jean-Emmanuel Ray, Emeritus Professor at University Paris I - Sorbonne, will lead discussions featuring economists, legal scholars, and practitioners.

The seminar aims to explore the dual economic and legal dimensions of ruptures conventionnelles, focusing on their implications for labor market fluidity, employee career trajectories, and substantial financial impacts on public funds. Notably, nearly a quarter of unemployment insurance expenditures—totaling €9.4 billion in 2024—were linked to these contract terminations.

This growth in ruptures conventionnelles usage fills a labor market gap by offering a negotiated, less contentious exit alternative compared to dismissals or resignations. However, concerns remain regarding the fiscal sustainability and balance between market efficiency and employee protections.

The event will also feature international comparisons and discuss potential reforms aimed at enhancing the mechanism's legal security for businesses while managing unemployment insurance costs effectively. This seminar represents an important follow-up to previous analyses by providing a deeper understanding of the ruptures conventionnelles' evolving role in France's employment landscape.