High Quality or Unpaid and Unregulated? - UN-EDUCATIONAL
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High Quality or
Unpaid and
Unregulated?
Uncovering National Internship
Policies in Europe
UN-EDUCATIONAL
NO PROSPECTS
LOW-QUALITY
UNPAID
We would like to thank all our member organisations who
Contents
contributed to this project:
National Youth Forum of Bulgaria Summary 4
Austrian National Youth Council Introduction 6
German Federal Youth Council
Methodology 8
Croatian Youth Network
National Youth Council of Hungary Country Profiles
The Romanian Youth Council
1. France - Best Practice 10
National Youth Council of Ireland
Estonian National Youth Council 2. Romania 12
National Youth Council of Italy 3. Croatia 14
National Union of University students in Finland 4. Bulgaria 16
Youth Council of Slovakia
National Youth Council of Slovenia
5. Austria 18
National Youth Council of Luxembourg 6. Ireland 20
The Lithuanian National Youth Council 7. Germany - Worst Practice 22
Portuguese National Youth Council
The Federation of Dutch Trade Unions Young & United Conclusion and Recommendations 24
The Danish Youth Council Annex - Overview of Internship policies in Europe 28
The National Union of Students in Denmark
European Trade Union Confederation Youth Committee
Author: Jenny Ng
Editor: William Hayward
Design: www.dougdawson.co.uk
Published: April 2022
Co-funded by the
Erasmus+ Programme
of the European Union
3Summary
Internships have become an and importantly ensure a minimum and access to social protection, and
unavoidable rite of passage for many level of remuneration. introducing measures to guarantee the
young people looking to start their quality of training for all internships.
careers, with surveys indicating about However, many states do not have
half of all young people in the EU have a dedicated legal framework for The shortcomings of internship policies
completed one1. However, they have internships and they are often seen across a number of EU Member
become notorious for exploiting young as a grey area under the law, open to States also highlights the limitations
people through low or unpaid positions abuses and exploitation. In countries of the EU’s Quality Framework for
that provide no learning content and such as Austria, the provision of Traineeships. For the Framework to
no prospects of a permanent job at the remuneration, basic labour rights and be truly effective, it must be updated
end, despite the ‘opportunities’ that social protection are largely subject to include a binding requirement for
employers promise they may provide. to employers’ discretion because of all open labour market internships
loopholes in the law. In others, such as (where they exist) to guarantee full
Despite their prevalence, there is little Germany, unpaid internships outside employment rights along the lines
information on how internships are of education have even been classed as of the best practice presented in this
regulated across Europe. To address a legal practice, giving a greenlight for report.
this, the European Youth Forum employers to exploit young people as
mapped out the national internship unpaid workers with no guarantee of Young people across the EU want
policies of a selection of European quality training. decent jobs that will jumpstart their
countries, with seven detailed country future. Strong internship policies
profiles presented in this report Many young people are therefore that ensure protection and quality,
(France, Romania, Croatia, Bulgaria, left unprotected by national policies, and their effective implementation,
Austria, Ireland and Germany). The treated unequally as opportunities are are essential for making this happen
profiles are also ranked from best limited to those who can afford to work through a successful school to work
to worst, highlighting how different unpaid, and exposed to the risk of low transition and the promotion of equal
countries protect interns or leave them quality internships which often replace opportunities for all young people.
exposed to exploitation. real jobs.
France and Romania, which are ranked To address this, we call on governments
highest in our report, have robust to implement the best practice
legal frameworks for internships that highlighted in this report. This means
eliminate loopholes and entitle interns ensuring that all interns outside of
to protections, labour rights, training education are clearly recognised as
employees who are entitled to labour
1. 46% of young people surveyed in 2013 reported rights such as the minimum wage
having completed an internship - Eurobarometer
378
4 5Introduction
Internships are often targeted at lead to a reduction in good quality However, this compensation shouldn’t whilst highlighting the examples of
young people to provide them with a entry-level positions, which employers be considered as a salary, given that best practice which uphold young
temporary experience in the workplace can substitute with unpaid internships an internship during education people’s access to quality training
where they may perform work and to save on costs. So, instead of should have a focus on learning (with and employment rights during their
develop their skills. They can take place providing a bridge to a job, internships regulations guaranteeing the quality internships.
in the framework of formal education, can actually lead to the disappearance of this learning) to complement their
but also outside of education on the of the very jobs young people are studies with workplace knowledge, By highlighting the shortcomings in
open labour market or organised by hoping to secure. rather than performing work normally internship policies we hope to promote
public employment services as part of undertaken by employees. In France progress towards our vision of what
active labour market policies (ALMP). For the individual young person, for example the law states that student quality internships should be, as set out
For many young people they are an working for free not only means being interns are not allowed to perform work in our Quality Charter for Internships
unavoidable part of their journey denied the recognition they deserve normally carried out by employees and Apprenticeships2.
to finding a permanent job, with for their efforts, but also a lack of access and they are entitled to compensation
employers often expecting young to basic rights such as paid sick leave, that is calculated as a percentage of
people to have already completed one health insurance and unemployment social welfare which is expressly not
or multiple internships. benefits. This can place them in an considered a salary.
extremely precarious position with
Yet, internships are frequently criticised very little financial security, which, in As part of our efforts to promote better For the individual young person,
for their low quality, failing to uphold turn, can have an impact both on their quality internships, we have mapped
basic labour rights or to provide any wellbeing, and on the extent to which out national internship policies across
working for free not only means
meaningful learning content. As youth they can actively contribute to society. a number of European countries in this being denied the recognition
organisations have highlighted in our report. We focus in particular on seven they deserve for their efforts,
report, these low quality internships We believe that all internships outside countries which demonstrate some of but also a lack of access to
are unfortunately common practice in of education must be remunerated the best and worst internship policies
basic rights such as paid sick
many countries in Europe. in line with minimum wage laws or in Europe: France, Romania, Croatia,
collective agreements, recognising Bulgaria, Austria, Ireland and Germany.
leave, health insurance and
The existence of unpaid internships that interns perform work that entitles unemployment benefits
after education can have serious them to be treated on an equal basis as We rank each country’s policy
consequences on individual young other workers. Internships undertaken framework according to a number of
people and on the rest of society. as part of formal education by students quality criteria (principally the legal
They restrict opportunities to a select should also provide compensation, in status of internships, remuneration,
number of young people whose order to cover living costs and the costs and learning content). We also
families can afford to support them incurred as part of the internship (such uncover the legal loopholes and policy
through a period of unpaid work, which as travel) in order to ensure that they failures that allow for low quality and 2. European Youth Forum Quality Charter for Intern-
entrenches inequality. They can also are accessible for all young people. unpaid internships to take place, ships and Apprenticeships (2011)
6 7Methodology
To map and rank different national Remuneration: Worst practice Unfortunately, information on national The research and the questionnaire
internship policy frameworks in Europe, is reflected in policies that make level internship policies in Europe and enabled us to identify countries with
we undertook a process of defining unpaid internships post-education the experience of young interns is the best and worst practice and they
quality criteria, collecting information legal, and where unpaid internships not widely available. This means that have been presented in the profiles
on those criteria from existing research are a common occurrence. The exploitative practices enabled by gaps within this report. Within each profile,
and youth organisations before minimum level of remuneration an in policy frameworks can remain a the information is outlined according
selecting the best and worst practice intern can receive is another quality hidden problem with little action taken to the quality criteria we defined and
to be presented in this report. Each consideration, with access to at least by policy-makers. each country ranked from best to
country is ranked according to how the minimum wage (which should worst depending on their performance
well they match with our quality be above the poverty threshold of To overcome this problem, we across the criteria. In addition to the in-
criteria. 60% of median income) representing designed a questionnaire for national depth profiles, we provide an overview
best practice in post-education level youth organisations covering the of all the other countries analysed as
For the definition of quality criteria for internships, and the provision of a different quality criteria above, as well part of the project in the annex.
national internship policies we relied on stipend or other compensation best as examining the research that does
the provisions outlined in our European practice for education internships. exist on internship policies. We received
Quality Charter for Internships and responses from 19 youth organisations
Apprenticeships and tailored them to Learning content: Measures to (a full list can be seen at the beginning
allow for a ranking of national policies: ensure the quality of learning can of the report), the majority of which
include the obligation to develop are National Youth Councils, but also
Legal status of interns: A lack a learning plan that sets out the national student organisations and
of legislation or insufficient skills the young person should the youth sections of trade unions, in
enforcement of legislation on the gain, the assignment of a mentor, addition to support from the European
quality of education and post- the provision of regular feedback Trade Union Confederation Youth
education internships represents and a certificate at the end of the Committee.
worst practice, whereas the clear internship.
definition of internships in legislation
and the enforcement of these laws Other quality criteria: Access
represents best practice. Another to social protection, redress
element of best practice can be the mechanisms in cases of abuse,
restriction of internships to only take transparent advertisement
place in education to prevent the and recruitment processes and
replacement of standard jobs with restrictions on the ratio of interns
internships. to employees represent other
important quality criteria for
internships.
8 9Country Profile Learning components
Legal status of interns The educational institutions the interns
Stages (internships) are strictly are affiliated with usually require
regulated in French law. They must learning standards to be included in
be current, full-time students of an the contract. French law also stipulates
accredited educational institution to be that a tutor must be assigned to the
eligible, meaning open labour market interns. It is encouraged to provide the
internships are prohibited. A tripartite interns with regular feedback and an
written contract between the employer, end-of-internship evaluation. In fact,
intern, and the school is required and interns must complete a rapport de
no internship can be longer than six stage for their schools to detail their
months. The intern is also added to responsibilities and experiences.
1
the employer’s staff register, which
enables labour inspectors to investigate Some interns learn by completing
employers to check if legislation is regular tasks autonomously, but
implemented. legislation forbids using interns to fulfil
tasks generally performed by regular
France Interns who work 308 hours or more
(more than two months) are generally
entitled to the same rights and
staff.
Other quality measures
protections as regular employees, Other measures to prevent replacing
with one important exception as their staff with interns and to encourage
compensation is set at a level below youth employment include
the national minimum wage. limiting the intern-to-staff ratio to
10% of the number of employees.
Internship Laws Remuneration allowing the internship period to
Internships are strictly regulated and can only take place within formal Any internship equal to and longer replace regular probation periods
education curricula than 308 hours (two months) must be if interns are hired as regular staff
Interns are entitled to all the rights guaranteed to regular staff (such as compensated with at least €3.90 per afterwards.
social protection and redress mechanisms) hour, approximately €600 per month imposing mandatory breaks for
(the statutory minimum wage in employers between hiring interns
Unpaid Internships France is €1,555 per month). again for the same position (the
Internships lasting two months or less as part of education can be unpaid break must equal at least one-third
Interns working for more than two months are entitled to at least €3.90 In addition to compensation, interns of the entire internship period).
per hour, equal to approximately €600 per month (depending on the are also entitled to food vouchers,
number of days worked) transportation subsidies, and all other Conclusion
Unpaid internships outside education are illegal but on rare occasions do basic social protection such as paid sick France’s national internship policy
take place leave, holiday leave and maternity leave. covers almost all aspects concerning
internships, guaranteeing interns
Illegal unpaid internships on the open access to basic rights, compensation
labour market are reported to take and preventing companies from
place, where employers use a fake hiring interns as a cheap replacement
university to give the impression that for regular staff. Youth organisations
the young person is still in education to in France do highlight that it could
circumvent the laws. These are rare, but be further improved by extending
demonstrate that enforcement of the compensation and social protection
law could be improved. also to interns who work less than
308 hours. Nevertheless, the French
model is the most comprehensive and
strictest in Europe.
10 11Legal status of interns Conclusion
A written contract is required between Romania can be regarded as having
the employer and intern, and the one of Europe’s most comprehensive
internship cannot exceed six months legislations on internships to ensure
in duration. Basic social protection a structured programme to protect
such as annual leave, health insurance young people transition into work.
and unemployment benefits are From the accounts of our member
mandatory (although paid sick leave is organisation, exploitation and unpaid
not provided), and they are protected internships do exist.4 However, these
under the same redress mechanism instances are clearly stated as illegal
as the staff in the case of abuse practices, and other conditions are
and harassment. Moreover, specific in place to promote good practice
2
legislation fosters a transparent and by employers, such as limits on the
fair recruitment process that curbs number of interns in one organisation.
discrimination. The drawback of the Romanian
framework is insufficient enforcement
On top of this, the number of interns of the law, the lack of paid sick
Romania cannot exceed 5% of the total number
of employees in an organisation, and
the government provides a subsidy
leave and below minimum wage
remuneration for interns which may
expose them to poverty and restrict
of approximately €1,000 to employers opportunities for marginalised youth to
who hire young people for a minimum take up an internship.
of 2 years after their internship contract
is completed.
Internship Laws Remuneration
Internships are highly regulated with specific legislation that outlines Unpaid internships are illegal according
clear employment and training rights for interns as well as conditions on to national legislation, and interns
employers to promote quality internships are entitled to 50% of the national
minimum wage, amounting to €236
Unpaid Internships per month.3 However, according to the
Interns are entitled to 50% of the minimum wage, equivalent to about National Youth Council of Romania,
€236 per month some employers avoid these rules by
Unpaid internships on the open labour market are illegal, but the laws illegally offering unpaid internships
without explicitly calling them an The government provides
are circumvented by employers who occasionally advertise illegal unpaid
internships internship to circumvent legislation, a subsidy of approximately
even if in practice it meets all the €1,000 to employers who hire
criteria for one.
young people for a minimum of
Learning components
2 years after their internship
Learning objectives and plans must contract is completed.
be included in the written contract
with interns. Interns are also guided
by a mentor, and if the organisation
has more than 12 interns, an intern
coordinator must be assigned. Regular
feedback and evaluation to the interns
are encouraged to enhance the
learning experience. Upon completion
of the internship, a certificate must be
provided.
3. The national minimum wage of Romania is 4. For example,interns might be handed too much
equivalent to €472 per month. Eurofound (2021) work and menial tasks that are considered
Minimum wages in 2021: Annual review. undesirable by other staff members, contributing to
overwork and stress.
12 13Legal status of interns remuneration is above the national
Internships are legally regulated as minimum wage. Unpaid internships on
part of education curricula and post- the open labour market are illegal in
education ALMP internships. They Croatia and the law on this is followed
can be catered to youth at different with no practice of unpaid internships
educational levels, from students in outside of education.
high schools to higher education.
ALMP internships are recognised as However, there is no obligation
workers, and written contracts must be to provide any compensation to
reviewed by the National Employment internships undertaken during
Service, and social protections enjoyed education and in practice the majority
by regular workers granted to the are unpaid, especially in the fields of
3
interns. As part of formal curricula, health, social work and education.
internships tend to be less protected
since they are not deemed part of the Learning components
labour force and it is not obligatory to Provisions to facilitate learning for
Croatia have a written contract.
Whether interns have access to redress
interns are encouraged in the national
policies, such as assigning mentors or
supervisors, giving regular feedback,
mechanisms depends on the internal and providing an evaluation. However,
rules of the company, in practice many they are often not implemented in
do not have access. The National Youth practice.
Council of Croatia notes that employers
are less inclined to extend or renew Conclusion
the contracts of interns who ask for Croatia’s policy to categorise ALMP
Internship Laws maternity or paternity leave. interns as workers brings a number
Open labour market internships are not defined or regulated by law and of important benefits such as having
are also not common in Croatia, but other forms of internships exist and Remuneration the written contracts reviewed by the
are subject to regulation: Previously unpaid ALMP internships National Employment Service, granting
Internships as part of formal education curricula have been promoted by the Croatian full social protection, and a minimum
Active labour market policy (ALMP) internships organised by public government, but these programmes level of remuneration. However,
employment services for unemployed young people have been replaced by a new ALMP stronger implementation of the
internship policy which ensures a training requirements for internships
Unpaid Internships minimum remuneration of 85% of is required. The lack of measures to
There is no obligation to provide compensation to internships in the salary for the job role. The amount ensure any compensation to interns
education and they are often unpaid depends on the job they perform enrolled in education should also be
ALMP interns receive 85% of the salary of the job they perform and the industry they are in, with addressed by the Croatian government
Unpaid internships on the open labour market are illegal and do not no ceiling in place on the amount to ensure a decent standard of living
take place in Croatia they can receive, typically the level of and equal opportunities.
14 15Legal status of interns NYF also highlights that abuse of
A tripartite agreement between interns often occurs, with cases where
the employer, the intern, and the employers have hired interns in the
educational institution is required summer to cover for other staff being
for internships within the education on leave, and quickly dismissing them
curriculum, while only a bilateral one once other staff return.
is needed for open labour market
internships. Learning components
Internships in Bulgaria are generally
Nevertheless, both forms of internships well-structured with learning objectives
are regulated by employment law, and plans included in the written
with most open labour market contract, and regular feedback and
4
internships subject to the provisions of end-of-internship evaluation are
Article 233 of the Labour Code, which provided to the interns during their
sets out internship regulations for training. For open labour market
young people up to age 29 without internships meeting the provisions
work experience. According to this of Article 233 of the Labour Code, it is
Bulgaria legislation employment rights such
as remuneration and social protection
(health insurance, paid sick leave,
mandatory to assign a mentor with at
least 3 years experience to the intern.
maternity and paternity leave, and Conclusion
unemployment benefits) are all Bulgaria has dedicated legislation
provided to interns and the duration of on internships that sets out clear
an internship is limited to between 6 measures to protect their quality. More
and 12 months. importantly, this legislation recognises
Internship Laws that internships are fully covered by
Internships are regulated with dedicated legislation that entitle young Interns should be entitled to the same labour law, such as the entitlement to
people to equal rights as other workers (minimum wage, social protection). redress mechanisms as regular staff national minimum wage (although,
The types covered are: in cases of discrimination and abuse the adequacy of the minimum wage
Praktika (practice) - internships for youth who engage in secondary and advertisement and recruitment should be improved) and access to
vocational education process should be transparent to social protection. However, these
Curricula internships for students enrolled in higher education prevent discrimination and nepotism. measures to ensure the quality of
Post-education internships on the open labour market internships are severely undermined by
Remuneration the fact that employers can circumvent
Unpaid Internships Interns falling under the provisions of these rules through unpaid internships,
Unpaid internships taking place outside the dedicated internship laws the Labour Code are entitled to at least which are not prohibited by law.
are legal and a common occurrence the national minimum wage, which is
For open labour market internships that follow the internship laws, currently set at €332 per month5.
interns are entitled to at least the national minimum wage, equivalent to
€332 per month. However unpaid internships are
common according to the National
Youth Forum of Bulgaria (NYF) and
often a legal practice, usually taking Measures to ensure the quality
the form of ‘summer internship of internships are severely
programmes’ which typically last 2
months in duration. This provides
undermined by the fact that
an option for many internships to employers can circumvent
circumvent the quality criteria outlined these rules through unpaid
in the Labour Code. internships, which are not
prohibited by law.
5. Eurofound (2021) Minimum wages in 2021: Annual
review.
16 17Legal status of interns education are somewhat common,
There is no legal definition of showing that this loophole is taken
internships in Austrian law, but advantage of by employers, whilst
internships as part of education and the majority of those taking place
post-education are common. during education are unpaid. Unpaid
internships are especially common in
In Austria the law distinguishes the health and social care sectors, as
between relationships with employers well as the media, cultural and creative
that are educational (characterised by sectors.
a lack of obligation to perform work)
and those that are work relationships, As there is no statutory minimum
which must follow general labour wage, with remuneration being subject
5
law. The ambiguity around the to collective agreements which vary
legal status of interns means that by sector, it is difficult to identify an
employers can define internships as average level of remuneration received
an educational relationship and avoid by interns when they are paid.
any obligations they would have to
Austria them as employees, even if the intern
is in practice performing work for their
employer. A contract is needed for
Learning components
Apart from compulsory internships
in sectors such as law and teacher
post-education internships, however training, most internships do not
these can be simply verbal contracts, have regulations regarding learning
whilst internships included in formal components to ensure maximum
education require an agreement that educational benefits for interns.
should adhere to training regulations
Internship Laws and the curricula. Social protection Conclusion
There is no specific regulation or definition of internships. However several types of such as paid leave, unemployment The lack of regulation and definition
internship practices can be identified: benefits, health insurance, and redress of internships in Austria leaves a
Fachhochschulen: Compulsory internships as part of formal curricula for certain mechanism in cases of abuse and significant loophole where young
professions (such as law and medicine) harassment are only granted to post- people can be denied their rights
Ausbildunsverhältnis or Volontariat: non-mandatory internships during education education internships classified as to fair pay and social protection in
or after graduation an employment relationship and ‘educational’ internships that take
Schnupperlehre - short-term job shadow ing therefore covered by general labour place after graduation. The existence
law, while those categorised as an of verbal contracts also contributes to
Unpaid Internships educational relationship (during or the precarity that young interns face in
Internships on the open labour market should in theory be remunerated post education) do not provide any their working conditions, whilst the lack
according to sector specific collective bargaining agreements access to social protection. Similarly, of measures to ensure the quality of
However internships on the open labour market can be legally unpaid if only internships covered by general the learning content increases the risk
categorised as an educational relationship and this commonly takes place labour law are required to meet policies that young people are simply carrying
Internships undertaken as part of education are usually unpaid on transparent and fair recruitment out work through unpaid labour, rather
processes. As there is no specific than developing their skills.
regulation on internships there are no
restrictions on their duration.
Remuneration
Austrian law suggests that unpaid work
should not exist. However, a significant
loophole allows unpaid internships
to legally exist, even if outside of
education, as long as they are framed
as an educational relationship. The
Austrian National Youth Council reports
that in practice unpaid internships after
18 19Legal status Learning components
There is no legal definition of Apart from compulsory internships for
internships in Ireland. General labour specific professions, such as medicine,
law should apply to internships, and engineering, and law, a structured
interns should be entitled to the same learning programme is not required.
rights as other workers, including
access to social protection, the Conclusion
minimum wage and other measures Whilst many internships adhere to
such as protection from sexual labour law, the National Youth Council
and other types of harassment or of Ireland highlights that unpaid
discrimination.6 However, employers internships remain a common practice
often choose not to recognise interns’ in Ireland, demonstrating a serious
6
entitlement to labour law arguing lack of action by the government to
that they are not performing work of ensure employers comply with the
value, with the government normally law against unpaid work. This is made
turning a blind eye to this and leaving even worse by the fact that there are
young people unable to access their no requirements to ensure quality
Ireland employment rights with even a written
contract being at the discretion of the
employer.
training is provided to the intern, even
when an internship is categorised
as an educational opportunity by
an employer. This leaves young
Remuneration people vulnerable to not having any
Legally, the national minimum wage, employment rights and unable to learn
€10,20 per hour, is guaranteed to skills to support their development.
workers. The government outlines
Internship Laws that anyone performing work that is
There is no legal definition of an internship or specific internship of value to the employer should be
contract in Ireland, but they are a common practice for young people recognised as a worker and covered by
in education and on the open labour market the minimum wage.
Unpaid Internships However, people aged 19 and below
Unpaid work is illegal in Ireland, but the law is often not enforced when are unfairly subject to lower rates.
it comes to internships, with unpaid internships a common practice Moreover, employers may argue that
and often advertised publicly interns are not producing work of
value to the company and therefore
they have no obligation to treat them People aged 19 and below are
as a worker. Unpaid internships are
unfairly subject to lower rates.
especially prevalent in sectors such
as NGOs, media and culture. They
Moreover, employers may argue
have also been actively promoted that interns are not producing
through government schemes, such as work of value to the company
JobBridge.7 and therefore they have no
obligation to treat them as a
6. Irish Congress of Trade Unions.Interns Rights worker.
7. Indecon. Indecon evaluation of JobBridge activation
programme. 2016.
20 21Legal status of interns Conclusion
There is usually a written contract The existence of three month unpaid
between the employer and intern, but internships in Germany, whilst short
it is not legally required and can be just in duration, pose a significant risk of
a verbal contract. Internships lasting exploitation, especially as there are
longer than three months (apart from almost no measures to ensure that
mandatory ones during education) these positions provide good learning
provide access to basic social opportunities and there is no obligation
protections and labour rights such as for a written contract. This system can
access to redress mechanisms, on an easily be abused to hire young people
equal basis as regular employees. as unpaid labour with little or no
training provided. Even when a stipend
7
Remuneration is provided, it is often insufficient to
Internships lasting up to three months cover living costs for marginalised
can legally be unpaid in Germany, youth who remain unable to access the
those longer than three months must positions9, meaning that these entry
comply with the national minimum routes into the world of work tend to be
Germany wage of €9,50 per hour. Mandatory
internships as part of education can
legally be unpaid even beyond three
accessed only by those who can afford
them. This is further compounded
by the lack of any compensation for
months. mandatory internships in education.
Despite the fact that internships even
below three months in duration are
often remunerated in line with the
Internship Laws minimum wage of €9,50 per hour,
There is not one specific law that defines and regulates internships, a many only provide a stipend. The
number of different categories of internships exist in Germany which German government offers three
are subject to different conditions: month internships with an expense
Mandatory internships as part of education curricula (such as for law allowance of €300 per month (which is
and medicine) subject to taxation, and the allowance
Voluntary internships during education for interns was the same 10 years ago,
Internships on the open labour market whilst the minimum wage has steadily
increased since its introduction in
Unpaid Internships 2015)8 .
It is common for internships lasting less than three months to be
unpaid, and this is legal. Learning components
Internships lasting longer than three months must comply with Apart from the strictly structured
the minimum wage, except for those that are a mandatory part of mandatory internships, such as for
education curricula law and medicine students, most
internships in Germany do not focus
on and are not required to have
educational elements.
8. German Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. 9. According to the Fair Internship Initiative’s Internship
Internships Survey Report of 2017 marginalised youth were just
as unlikely to be able to access unpaid internships as
those with a small stipend
22 23Conclusion and
Recommendations
This mapping of internship policies unpaid internships during and outside
has revealed the wide diversity in of education are actually a legal
quality that exists in Europe. France practice (if less than three months) and
and Romania stand out as the with no measures to enforce quality
two best policy frameworks of the training; this leads to a system that can
countries we have examined, with easily be abused to use interns simply
specific regulations that set out clear as free labour.
employment and training rights for
interns and conditions on employers to The analysis highlights that in
ensure good practice (although in each many countries young people are
case youth organisations point to a unprotected by the policies in place at
number of measures needed to further national level, either through policies
promote quality). that legalise exploitative practices,
or loopholes that allow them to take
At the other end of our ranking place. To address this, we call on
Austria and Ireland outline no specific national governments to implement
regulations for internships and the the best practice highlighted in this
freereign given to employers to define report:
the internship relationship as ‘just an
educational experience’ is frequently Where internships exist outside of
exploited to hire young people as education, interns must be clearly
unpaid interns with no guarantee recognised as employees, entitled
of quality training opportunities. In to the application of general labour
Bulgaria the high quality regulations law on an equal basis as other
for internships are undermined by the workers (for example coverage under
legal practice of unpaid internships minimum wage laws or collective
outside of the legal framework, making agreements, social protection,
it very simple to circumvent the redress mechanisms in case of
regulations on internships. In Germany abuse)
24 25All internships must be based on circumvent these laws through lower employers have power and discretion
a written contract and include quality internships. to force unfair conditions on interns.
measures to ensure quality training
(such as the assignment of a mentor, Providing compensation for internships To ensure better outcomes for young
a written learning plan, the provision taking place during education can help people it must be updated with a
of regular feedback and a certificate to cover living costs for an intern and binding requirement for all open
upon completion.) ensure that the internship is accessible labour market interns to be recognised
vOther important measures to for those with low income (as is done as employees and entitled to either the
guarantee quality include: in France). However, it is critical that statutory minimum wage or coverage
A maximum ratio of interns to provisions are in place to ensure that under collective agreements - without
staff internships during education are exceptions, as well as full access to
A maximum length of duration learning experiences that contribute social protection on an equal basis as
of an internship (for example 6 towards an interns’ formal education, other employees.
months, as in France) to prevent them being used to
Financial incentives to perform work normally carried out By taking action at EU level to
encourage employers to hire by employees. Without measures to ban unpaid internships and the
interns permanently guarantee the learning dimension, introduction of quality internship
The enforcement of internship then the intern essentially becomes an policies at national level we can
legislation to prevent illegal employee without any employment take important steps towards equal
practices rights. opportunities for all young people as
Break periods for employers well as contributing to a more secure
between the hiring of interns The failures in internship policies transition from school to work that is
Transparent advertisement and across a number of EU Member free from precarious jobs.
hiring States investigated in this report
Compensation such as a stipend also highlights the limitations of the
for internships undertaken European Quality Framework for
during formal education Traineeships, which sets out policy The analysis highlights that in
recommendations on open labour many countries young people
France and Croatia provide good market internships for EU Member
are unprotected by the policies
examples of where internships States. The recommendations in
are restricted, only taking place the Quality Framework are silent in place at national level, either
in education or through active on whether internships should be through policies that legalise
labour market policies. This can be remunerated at all and at what level, exploitative practices, or
one method to help promote the in addition there is no guidance on loopholes that allow them to
creation of quality entry-level jobs, as what access they should provide to
employers must offer employment that social protection. These gaps allow for
take place.
adheres to general labour law rather loopholes and exploitative policies at
than exploiting the opportunity to national level to be continued, where
26 27Annex - Overview of
Internship policies in
Europe
Based on feedback from youth organisations
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Lithuania
Denmark
Germany
Romania
Portugal
Hungary
Belgium
Bulgaria
Slovenia
Slovakia
Sweden
Czechia
Finland
Estonia
Croatia
Austria
Ireland
Poland
Cyprus
Greece
France
Latvia
Malta
Spain
Italy
Legal Status - Type of regulation*
Unregulated
Regulated but low quality
Regulated and high quality
Banned from labour market
Remuneration
Are unpaid internships legal? #
How common are unpaid internships within C V C V C C V V C U U V C C U C V C C V U U U V V V C
education?**
How common are unpaid open market intern- C C C U C U V V C N/A U V C C U N/A V C V V U U C V V C C
ships?**
Social protection
Internships within education ?##
Internships outside education ?## N/A N/A
Learning components
Are there measures to ensure quality learning
opportunities?
* Unregulated - There is no specific Regulated and high quality - ** V - very common, unpaid # Student internships up to 2 months
regulation or definition of internships. Internships are specially regulated, internships represent the majority in duration can be unpaid
General labour laws should apply but with dedicated internship contracts. of the country’s internships
as internships are a grey area in the Interns are entitled to the same C - common, unpaid internships are ## Social protection for interns
law, they can be circumvented. conditions (minimum wage, social common in Finland are not divided by
Regulated but low quality - protection etc.) as other employees. U - uncommon, unpaid internships categories of within and outside
Internships are specially regulated, Restricted to education - are rare education. Instead, interns who
with dedicated internship contracts. Internships are specially regulated X - no, unpaid internships are have contracts are fully protected,
However, interns are not entitled and can only take place in the outlawed while uncontracted and unpaid
to the same conditions (minimum framework of education, internships interns have no protection.
wage, social protection etc.) as other on the open labour market are
employees. banned.
28 29You can also read
