An electromagnetic contactor has a contact device having a pair of fixed contacts and a movable contact; and an electromagnet unit including an exciting coil driving a movable plunger connected through a connecting shaft. The contact device is configured such that L-shaped portions have a contact portion formed in the pair of fixed contacts fixed maintaining a predetermined interval, and two ends of the movable contact are disposed to be capable of contacting to and separating from the contact portions of the L-shaped portion on a side opposite to that of the electromagnet unit. The electromagnet unit includes a magnetic yoke enclosing a plunger drive portion, a movable plunger having a leading end protruding through an aperture formed in the magnetic yoke and urged by a return spring, and a ring-form permanent magnet magnetized in a movable direction of the movable plunger and fixed to enclose a peripheral flange portion.