Increasing flexibility of duration of employment

In most European countries the principle of employment contracts being normally of an indefinite duration has been weakened, so providing less security to the weaker party in industrial relations, the worker. A few forms of this flexibility are: (a) extension of the possibilities of concluding short-term contracts; (b) extension of the probationary period; (c) extension of the practical training of young workers; (d) using agency temporaries.

In most countries measures have also been taken to arrive at more flexibility at the time of the termination of the employment contract. Examples of this are shorter terms of notice and lower dismissal compensations.