Subsection 5: Breach of contract.

The apprenticeship contract may be terminated by either party up until the end of the first forty-five days, consecutive or otherwise, of practical in-company training completed by the apprentice.

After this period, the contract may be terminated by written agreement signed by both parties.

Failing this, the contract may be terminated in the event of force majeure, serious misconduct on the part of the apprentice, unfitness certified by the occupational physician under the conditions defined in article L. 4624-4 or in the event of the death of an apprentice master employer in the case of a one-person company. Termination takes the form of dismissal in accordance with the terms and conditions set out in articles L. 1232-2 to L. 1232-6 and L. 1332-3 to L. 1332-5. In the event of unfitness certified by the occupational physician, the employer is not obliged to redeploy the employee.

After the period provided for in the first paragraph of this article, the apprenticeship contract may be terminated at the apprentice's initiative, subject to notice, under conditions determined by decree. The apprentice must first contact the mediator mentioned in article L. 6222-39 or, for apprentices in the non-industrial and non-commercial public sector, the department designated as responsible for mediation. If the apprentice is a minor, the termination notice must be signed jointly by his legal representative. If the minor apprentice is unable to obtain a response from his legal representative, he may apply to the mediator mentioned in the same article L. 6222-39. The mediator intervenes, within a maximum period of fifteen consecutive calendar days at the apprentice's request, in order to obtain the agreement or otherwise of the legal representative on the act of termination of the contract. A copy of this document is sent, for information, to the training establishment in which the apprentice is registered.

In the event of compulsory liquidation without continuation of the business or when the continuation of the business is terminated pursuant to the last paragraph of article L. 641-10 of the French Commercial Code and the apprenticeship contract must be terminated, the liquidator will notify the apprentice of the termination of the contract. In this case, the provisions of article L. 1243-4 of this code apply, with the exception of those relating to the indemnity provided for in article L. 1243-8.