Article 18Conversion of a Fixed-term Labor Contract to a Labor Contract Without a Fixed Term

①If a Worker whose total contract term of two or more fixed-term labor contracts (excluding any contract term which has not started yet; the same applies hereinafter in this Article) concluded with the same Employer (referred to as the "total contract term" in the next paragraph) exceeds five years applies for the conclusion of a labor contract without a fixed term before the date of expiration of the currently effective fixed-term labor contract, to begin on the day after the said date of expiration, it is deemed that the said Employer accepts the said application. In this case, the labor conditions that are the contents of said labor contract without a fixed term are to be the same as the labor conditions (excluding the contract term) of the currently effective fixed-term labor contract (excluding parts separately provided for with regard to the said labor conditions (excluding the contract term)).

②In between the expiration date of the preceding fixed-term labor contract and the start date of the following one with the same Employer, if there is a period of time outside of these two contract terms (excluding a period outside of either of the said contract terms which falls under the standards provided by Ordinance of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, provided that these contract terms be regarded as continuous; hereinafter referred to as a "vacant term" in this paragraph) and the said vacant term is six months or longer (if the contract term of one fixed-term labor contract which expired just before the said vacant term (if there is no vacant term between the contract terms of two or more fixed-term labor contracts including the said first one, the aggregate term of the said two or more contracts; the same applies hereinafter in this paragraph) is less than one year, the length of a term given by Ordinance of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, based on the length of a term determined as being one half of the said first contract term), the contract term of the fixed-term that expired before the said vacant term is not included in the total contract term.