Can an apprentice immediately terminate their apprenticeship contract in the event of serious breaches by the employer?

On January 21, 2026, the Court of Cassation received a request for an advisory opinion filed on January 7, 2026, by the Versailles Court of Appeal in a case between Immobilière des musiciens and Ms. [R].

The request is worded as follows:

“Can an apprentice’s acknowledgment of the termination of their apprenticeship contract be considered a valid method of termination to end their contract when the apprentice alleges serious breaches by the employer?”

The Court of Cassation notes that under Article L 622-18 of the Labor Code:

“The apprenticeship contract may be terminated by either party until the end of the first forty-five days—whether consecutive or not—of practical training in the workplace completed by the apprentice.

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