If, by the expiration date of the contract term of a fixed-term labor contract which falls under any of the following items, a Worker applies for a renewal of the said fixed-term labor contract, or if a Worker applies for the conclusion of another fixed-term labor contract without delay after the said contract term expires, and the Employer's refusal to accept the said application lacks objectively reasonable grounds and is not found to be appropriate in general societal terms, it is deemed that the Employer accepts the said application with the same labor conditions as the contents of the prior fixed-term labor contract:
the said fixed-term labor contract has been repeatedly renewed in the past, and it is found that terminating the said fixed-term labor contract by not renewing it when the contract term expires is, in general social terms, equivalent to terminating a labor contract without a fixed term by expressing the intention to fire a Worker who has concluded the said labor contract without a fixed term;
it is found that there are reasonable grounds upon which the said Worker expects the said fixed-term labor contract to be renewed when the said fixed-term labor contract expires.
Worker
「労働者」
A person who works under an employer and is paid wages, with no requirement to work at a particular business or office.
Defined inArticle 2, paragraph (1)· applies throughout the law
Employer
「使用者」
The person or company that employs a worker and pays the worker wages.
Defined inArticle 2, paragraph (2)· applies throughout the law
fixed-term labor contract
「有期労働契約」
A labor contract (労働契約) whose period of employment is fixed in advance, rather than one with no set term.
Short name set inArticle 17, paragraph (1)· applies only in this chapter