open-ended contract vs specific-date contract

I was hired as a contractual consultant. the renumeration package is the same with the regular internal consultant employee. The only difference, the terms and conditions specified in the contract of employment. term: 3 yrs renewable. condition: satisfactory or higher performance evaluation.

last year i signed another 3yrs contract renewable but later this june the contact has been change to open-ended contract. all other remain the same except the end of the contract date was replaced with "open-ended".

I asked the HR and they said, technically am now a regular employee and they want to keep the contractual consultant as possible of the changing markets. but still i have a doubt if they want me to be a regular, they should make my employment document as regular not open-ended.

now, please help me understand what's open-ended vs specified-date contract. I believe there's a big gap between these two contracts. Thanks.

i think the HR was trying to correct a mistake. seems to me you should be considered regular from the beginning.

i would not consider it 'open ended'. lookat it more now as you have security of tenure.