Improving working conditions in traineeships - opinion of the DSV
A new framework aims to improve the quality of traineeships.
06/2024
Many young
Europeans use the opportunity to do an traineeship before, during or after
their studies. The internal market of the European Union (EU) offers the chance
to gain work experience in other member states. However, only half of the
approximately 1.6 million traineeships are remunerated. The European Commission
has taken up the issue at the request of the European Parliament.
The
parliamentary resolution of 14 June 2023 addresses the precarious situation of
many interns who are in unpaid long-term employment. Other challenges include
their unequal position compared to permanent employees, the high workload and
the lack of social security. It is also criticised that interns are often not
taught any learning content, but instead replace regular staff.
On 20 March, the European Commission presented
two proposals and measures to improve traineeships within the EU. The
Commission has put forward two proposals: a proposal for a Directive on
improving and enforcing working conditions for trainees and combatting regular
employment relationships disguised as traineeships; a proposal to revise the
2014 Council Recommendation on a Quality Framework for Traineeships to address
issues of quality and inclusiveness, such as fair pay and access to social
protection. The DSV welcomes the Commission's efforts to improve working
conditions and social protection in internships.
Better informed - preventative measures
Many young Europeans take the opportunity to do a
traineeship before, during or after their education. The single market of the
European Union (EU) offers the chance to gain work experience in other member
states. However, only half of the approximately 1.6 million traineeships are
remunerated. The issue was taken up by the European Commission at the request
of the European Parliament.
The European Parliament resolution of 14 June
2023 addresses the precarious situation of many trainees who are in unpaid
long-term employment. Other challenges include their unequal position compared
to permanent employees, the high workload and the lack of social security. It
is also criticised that trainees are often not taught any learning content, but
instead replace regular staff.
On 20 March, the European Commission presented
two proposals and measures to improve traineeships within the EU. The
Commission has put forward two proposals: a proposal for a Directive on
improving and enforcing working conditions for trainees and combatting regular
employment relationships disguised as traineeships as well as a proposal to
revise the 2014 Council Recommendation on a Quality Framework for Traineeships
to address issues of quality and inclusiveness, such as fair pay and access to
social protection. The DSV welcomes the Commission's efforts to improve working
conditions and social protection in traineeships.
Collaboration between old and new - the Traineeship Agreement
The Council has set out a framework of criteria
that may be flexibly adapted and adopted by Member States according to their
needs. The traineeship agreement is the central focus of the recommendation,
acting as a source of information. Agreements should include binding elements
on labour and social protection that apply in the EU. Additionally, employers
are required to provide these agreements to their trainees. In the area of
social protection, the inclusion of coverage for sickness, accidents at work
and occupational diseases is a notable addition. The DSV welcomes this
development but suggests that the current wording may lack sufficient detail,
potentially leaving loopholes in the information provided.
Traineeship - what does that mean?
There is currently no standardised definition of
traineeships within the EU. For this reason, the DSV is in favour of ensuring
that the terms currently used in the proposed directive and the Council
recommendations remain consistent and coherent throughout the revision process.
The terminology used for traineeships in the Commission's proposals is not
identical. However, the basic elements do not differ.
Further action
In the further course of the process, the
Commission's suggestions for directive go to the European Parliament, the
member states and the Council for deliberation. If the proposal is adopted, the member states will have two
years to incorporate it into national legislation.