Cannot Update Contingent Worker Number with API when no assignment exists

Question

Hi
I am using hr_person_api.update_gb_person to update Contingent Worker Numbers (NPW_Number in PER_ALL_PEOPLE_F). This works fine apart from one exception. I get the following error: ORA-20001: You cannot enter a Contingent Worker number because you are not creating a Contingent Worker.
The Contingent Worker failing has 4 records in PER_ALL_PEOPLE_F. The 3 date tracked (end dated) records update fine as expected....the new NPW_Number appears in PER_ALL_PEOPLE_F. However, the current active record does not update it returns the error mentioned. This appears to be because the person in question was terminated. (ie via Others and selecting End Placement in the screens).
This person now shows as Ex-Agency Person Type. This process does not generate a record in PER_ALL_ASSIGNMENTS_F. I am wondering if this causes the API some confusion?
I can go into the screen and manually change the Contingent Worker and it saves fine so I would expect the API to do the same. However it returns ORA-20001: You cannot enter a Contingent Worker number because you are not creating a Contingent Worker....for this single record only.
Any suggestions as to what may be causing the API to return this and any workaround please?
Many thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Sometimes APIs are not behaving as Forms do.
An ugly solution in this case could be reverse the termination (hr_ex_employee_api.reverse_terminate_employee), then update the Contingent Worker Number with your API, then terminate him/her again.