Are there any restrictions on how long someone can be on a fixed-term contract? How often can you extend?

Under Regulation 8 of the Fixed-term Employees (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002, employees who have been continuously employed for four years or more on a series of successive fixed-term contracts are automatically deemed to be permanent employees (that is, employed on an indefinite contract) unless the continued use of a fixed-term contract can be objectively justified. Only service after 10 July 2002 counts for these purposes.

This includes cases where the original contract has been renewed or extended, or where a different contract has been entered into after the expiry of the original contract (Regulation 8(1)). It does not include cases where