A fixed term contract Morocco allows (CDD, contrat à durée déterminée) may only be signed in three cases: replacing an employee whose contract is suspended (except during a strike), a temporary increase in activity, or seasonal work (Article 16 of the Labour Code, Law n° 65-99), plus the sectors and exceptional cases set by regulation or collective agreement. When a company, a new establishment or a new product is launched, it may last one year at most, renewable only once, and then becomes an open-ended contract (CDI) (Article 17). Ended early without serious misconduct or force majeure, it entitles the other party to damages equal to the salary remaining until the end date (Article 33). The rules are unchanged in 2026; this article is up to date as of 4 November 2026.
In brief
- Principle: the CDI is the rule; the CDD is reserved for cases where the employment relationship cannot be permanent (Article 16).
- Grounds: replacement, temporary increase, seasonal work, regulated exceptional cases, new company, establishment or product.
- Maximum length: 1 year renewable once (2 years) for a start-up outside agriculture; 6 months renewable up to 2 years in agriculture (Article 17).
- Conversion: beyond these limits, or if a one-year contract continues after its end date, it becomes a CDI.
- End: on the agreed date or when the agreed task is completed, with no notice (Article 33).
- Early termination: salary remaining until the end date, except for serious misconduct or force majeure.
Fixed term contract Morocco: the rules at a glance
| Ground | Text | Length | Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Replacing an employee whose contract is suspended (not strikers) | Art. 16, 1° | Length of the absence | Not set by the Code |
| Temporary increase in activity | Art. 16, 2° | Length of the peak | Not set by the Code |
| Seasonal work | Art. 16, 3° | Length of the season | Not set by the Code |
| Exceptional sectors and cases | Art. 16, last paragraph | Per the regulation or agreement | Per the text |
| New company or establishment, new product (outside agriculture) | Art. 17 | 1 year at most | Once only, then CDI |
| Agriculture | Art. 17 | 6 months | Renewable, 2 years in total, then CDI |
The Code sets a numeric maximum only for the Article 17 cases. For the three Article 16 cases, the length follows from the ground: the return of the replaced employee, the end of the peak, the end of the season.
Grounds for a fixed term contract (Article 16)
Article 16 sets the principle: a contract is concluded for an indefinite term, a fixed term or a specific task, and a CDD is only possible where the employment relationship cannot be open-ended. It then gives a closed list:
1. Replacing an absent employee
That employee’s contract must be suspended: illness, accident, maternity leave, lawful temporary closure (Article 32). Replacing strikers is excluded. State the name and job of the replaced employee in the contract.
2. Temporary increase in activity
An exceptional order, a one-off peak, a time-limited project. Normal, permanent activity does not justify a CDD, however busy.
3. Seasonal work
Harvests, canneries, tourism: tasks that recur each year at roughly fixed times. The contract follows the season.
4. Exceptional sectors and cases
A CDD is also possible in certain sectors and exceptional cases set by regulation, after consulting the most representative employers’ organisations and unions, or under a collective agreement. Check the text that applies to your sector before relying on it.
Length and renewal (Article 17)
Article 17 covers three situations outside agriculture: opening a company for the first time, opening a new establishment, launching a new product for the first time. A fixed term contract Morocco employers sign in these cases may last one year at most, renewable only once. After that period, the contract becomes open-ended in all cases. A contract of one year or less kept going beyond its end date also becomes a CDI.
In agriculture, a CDD may be concluded for six months, renewable, provided the total length of the contracts does not exceed two years; it then becomes a CDI.
Probation in a CDD
It may not exceed one day per week of work, up to two weeks, for a contract under six months, and one month for a contract over six months (Article 14). See our guide to the probation period in Morocco.
Conversion of a fixed term contract Morocco into a CDI
The Code expressly provides for conversion into a CDI in three situations:
- a start-up CDD (Article 17) exceeds one year renewed once;
- a CDD of one year or less continues after its end date without a new contract;
- in agriculture, successive contracts exceed two years.
Outside these cases, a CDD signed without an Article 16 ground, or used to fill a permanent job over time, may be reclassified by the court. The stakes are high: once reclassified, ending the contract becomes a dismissal, with notice, severance pay and, absent a valid reason, damages for unfair dismissal. The amounts are covered in our guides to the notice period in Morocco and severance pay in Morocco.
End and early termination
Normal end
A fixed term contract Morocco ends on the agreed date or when the agreed task is completed (Article 33), with no notice. It ends on that date even if the employee is ill, injured or on maternity leave at the time (Articles 32 and 46). The Labour Code provides no end-of-contract payment for a CDD, and severance pay is reserved for CDIs (Article 52).
Early termination
If either party ends a CDD before its end date without serious misconduct by the other or force majeure, it owes damages equal to the salary for the period from termination to the end date (Article 33). The rule works both ways: an employee who leaves early without cause may be ordered to compensate the employer.
Worked example
As an illustration, a company opens a new establishment in Tangier and hires a team leader on a one-year CDD, from 1 January to 31 December 2026, at 7,000 DH gross a month.
| Situation | Consequence | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The employer ends it at the end of July 2026, no serious misconduct | Salary remaining to the end date: 5 months | 5 × 7,000 = 35,000 DH |
| The contract reaches its end date on 31 December 2026 | Ends with no notice and no severance | Untaken leave paid |
| One-year renewal in January 2027 | Allowed once only (Article 17) | Ends 31 December 2027 |
| The employee keeps working in January 2028 | The contract becomes a CDI | Service from January 2026 |
The starting point for service after conversion is the one used in practice; have it confirmed when calculating entitlements.
End-of-contract documents
- Final payslip in Morocco, with pay for untaken leave, due whatever the reason (Article 254); see leave management in Morocco.
- Work certificate within 8 days (Article 72).
- Final settlement receipt, in two copies, which can be challenged within 60 days (Articles 73 to 75).
Drafting a fixed term contract Morocco safely
- State the precise ground: name of the replaced employee, nature of the peak, season, opening date of the new establishment.
- Set the end date or the event that ends the task.
- Sign in two copies, with certified signatures (Article 15).
- Register the employee with the CNSS from hiring: see employee registration in Morocco. A CDD employee is paid and contributes like any other, at least at the minimum wage (SMIG) in Morocco.
- Track end dates: a CDD that runs past its end date without a decision becomes a CDI risk.
HR and payroll software for Morocco records the ground and end date of each contract, alerts you before the deadline, counts renewals and produces the exit documents. To cost a hire, use our free payroll simulators; all our guides are gathered in payroll in Morocco.
Frequently asked questions
When can a fixed term contract Morocco be signed?
Replacing an employee whose contract is suspended (not strikers), a temporary increase in activity, seasonal work, regulated or agreed exceptional cases (Article 16), and a new company, establishment or product (Article 17).
What is the maximum length of a CDD?
For a start-up, one year renewable once, i.e. two years; in agriculture, six months renewable up to two years (Article 17). In other cases, the length follows the ground.
How many times can a CDD be renewed?
Once for an Article 17 start-up CDD. In agriculture, several six-month renewals are possible up to two years.
When does a CDD become a CDI?
Beyond the Article 17 maximum, when a one-year contract continues after its end date, or by court decision if the ground is not valid.
Is there notice for a fixed term contract Morocco?
No: it ends on the agreed date (Article 33). Notice applies to ending a CDI.
What happens on early termination?
Except for serious misconduct and force majeure, the party ending it owes the salary remaining until the end date, as damages (Article 33).
Is a payment due at the end of a CDD?
The Labour Code provides no end-of-contract payment. Untaken leave is paid (Article 254); a collective agreement may provide more.
Where can I read Articles 16, 17 and 33?
In the consolidated Labour Code published by the Ministry of Justice (in French), and on our page on the Morocco labour code.
Key takeaways
- The fixed term contract Morocco allows is the exception: replacement, temporary peak, seasonal work, exceptional cases, start-ups.
- For a start-up, one year renewable once; in agriculture, six months renewable up to two years.
- Beyond that, or if it continues after its end date, it becomes a CDI.
- It ends with no notice; ending it early costs the salary remaining.
- A written ground, a set end date and tracked deadlines are what prevent reclassification.
To track your CDDs, renewals and end dates in the same place as payroll, book a Socium demo.
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