Chapter V: Work placement periods.

The purpose of work experience periods is to enable a worker, whether or not unemployed, or a job seeker: 1° Discover a trade or sector of activity; 2° to confirm a career plan; or 3° Initiate a recruitment process.

Work experience periods are open to anyone receiving personalised social or vocational support, provided they are prescribed by one of the following organisations: 1° The institution mentioned in article L. 5312-1 ; 2° The bodies mentioned in article L. 5314-1 ; 3° The bodies mentioned in 1° bis of article L. 5311-4; 4° The bodies mentioned in 2° of the same article L. 5311-4; 4° bis The Departmental Council, through…

The beneficiary of a period of work experience retains the benefit scheme and status he enjoyed prior to this period. They are not paid by the structure in which they complete a work placement period. At the host company, they have access to the public transport and facilities available to employees. If employed, the beneficiary returns to his or her job at the end of this period.

Periods of work experience are the subject of an agreement between the beneficiary, the structure in which the work experience is provided, the body responsible for prescribing the measure as referred to in article L. 5135-2 and the support structure, where this is separate from the body responsible for prescribing the measure. A decree determines the terms and conditions of this agreement and its content.

A period of work experience in the same structure may not exceed a period defined by decree. During this period, the pricing or funding arrangements of the organisation employing or hosting the beneficiary of the work experience period remain unchanged.

The person undertaking the work experience placement follows the rules applicable to employees of the structure in which the work experience placement takes place with regard to: 1° Daily and weekly working hours; 2° Night work; 3° Daily rest, weekly rest and public holidays; 4° Health and safety at work.

No work experience agreement may be concluded to carry out a regular task corresponding to a permanent job, to deal with a temporary increase in the activity of the host structure, to fill a seasonal job as defined in 3° of article L. 1242-2 or to replace an employee in the event of absence or suspension of his employment contract.

The beneficiary of a period of work experience benefits from the protection and rights mentioned in articles L. 1121-1, L. 1152-1 and L. 1153-1, under the same conditions as employees.