EESC Advocates for Fair Trainee Compensation: No More Unpaid Work

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is advocating for stronger measures in the Commission's proposal to make EU traineeships more equitable and inclusive. With nearly half of the EU's three million trainees unpaid and about a third lacking social protection, the EESC insists that all young people should have equal opportunities to benefit from traineeships, regardless of their financial situation.

On July 11, the EESC held a high-level debate on enhancing EU traineeship legislation, responding to civil society and youth organization demands to end the prevalent practices of unpaid internships and lack of social protections. During its July plenary session, the EESC welcomed the Commission's recent proposals, including the Traineeship Directive and the Reinforced Quality Framework for Traineeships, praising them as significant progress.

The proposed Directive aims to enforce good quality working conditions for trainees, ensuring that internships are not used to replace regular jobs. The revised 2014 Council Recommendation on a Quality Framework for Traineeships suggests fair pay and adequate social protection for trainees, though these recommendations are not legally binding.

The EESC urged co-legislators to strengthen these proposals to prevent the misuse of traineeships as cheap labor or substitutes for entry-level jobs. Fair compensation for trainees, covering their living expenses, is essential to ensure equal access to traineeships for all young people.

EESC President Oliver Röpke emphasized that "Traineeships are crucial for young people to gain work experience. We must ensure no young person is excluded due to financial constraints. Fair compensation for traineeships is necessary to combat exploitation, and I appreciate the Commission's efforts towards this goal."

Commissioner Nicolas Schmit added, "Traineeships offer valuable work experience, skill development, and networking opportunities. They must be of high quality, paid, and include mentoring to help young people transition to the workforce. We need to ensure traineeships are accessible and inclusive, not just for the privileged few. I thank the EESC for its dedication to empowering young people as they start their careers."

In its opinion on the Traineeship Directive and Reinforced Quality Framework for Traineeships, the EESC highlighted the importance of authorities in preventing regular employment disguised as traineeships. Social partners play a critical role in this, aligning with national practices.

The EESC called for provisions allowing workers' representatives to protect trainees, even if their traineeship does not constitute an employment relationship, in line with national laws.

Rapporteur Nicoletta Merlo stressed, "Improving the Quality Framework for Traineeships, especially in learning and training content, and preventing traineeship abuse is crucial. We urge the Commission to enhance the proposals to meet these goals."

Merlo also pointed out that the Commission's proposals apply broadly to all forms of traineeships but lack measures to prevent their misuse. The rules only apply to trainees considered workers or in employment relationships, limiting their scope and potentially failing to achieve the intended aims.

During the plenary debate, leaders from the EU's umbrella organizations representing employers, workers, and young people shared their views: Maxime Cerutti of Business Europe, Tea Jarc of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), and Rareș Voicu, newly appointed president of the European Youth Forum.

Cerutti argued against binding legislation on traineeships, emphasizing respect for national and social partner competences. He called for overall labor market improvements, better training provisions, and incentives for employers to reduce skills mismatches.

Jarc criticized the Commission's package for not eliminating unpaid traineeships, which she said exploit young people. She called for clear criteria for high-quality traineeships and demanded stricter requirements for governments and employers. Voicu welcomed parts of the initiative but urged for a "bolder" Directive to prevent exploitation and social exclusion of young people.

Investing in quality traineeships with fair, transparent working conditions and substantial learning content can significantly boost youth employment. According to a 2023 Flash Eurobarometer, 68% of surveyed trainees were employed after their traineeship, with 75% finding the experience professionally beneficial.

However, youth unemployment remains a persistent challenge in the EU, with rates more than double the overall unemployment rate. While the average employment rate for recent graduates across the EU is 83.5%, some Member States, like Italy, have much lower rates, around 67%.

The Commission's new proposals update the 2014 Quality Framework for Traineeships, setting standards and guidelines for Member States. These proposals, published in March 2024, build on other Commission initiatives supporting youth employment and respond to calls from the Conference on the Future of Europe for quality traineeships.

The EESC views these measures as an essential first step and is committed to advocating for fair treatment of young people in the labor market, focusing on working conditions, training, and career advancement opportunities.

Article source: https://www.eesc.europa.eu/en/news-media/press-releases/eesc-calls-fair-compensation-traineeships-no-trainee-should-work-free

Photo attribution: DiploCult, Paolo Petrocelli speaking at the European Economic and Social Committee in Brussels, CC BY-SA 4.0