First, you must enter into a contract under French labor law. Employees in France enjoy extensive rights granted by both Labor Code (Code Du Travail) and collective agreements (Conventions Collectives de Travail). The Code describes the minimum conditions of employment such as: working hours, overtime payments, holidays, trial and notice periods, dismissal conditions, health and safety regulations & trade union rights. Collective agreements are negotiated between syndicates and employers’ associations. The specific rights and obligations of both employees and employers are covered in the collective agreements. In France, employment laws cannot be altered or nullified by private agreements between the employee and the employers.

Foreigners working in France are employed under the same working conditions as French citizens, although there are different rules for certain categories of employee, e.g. directors, managers, and factory workers. Part-time employees are entitled to the same rights and benefits (on a pro rate basis) as full-time employees.