Developing new standards for internships – Six principles for the regulation of internships

We suggest six principles to guide the design of new laws for this purpose, or indeed the framing of new international standards.

1. Certain types of internship, however they are labelled by the parties, should attract the same entitlements and protections as an ‘ordinary’ employment relationship.

2. Even if a particular type of internship should not attract the operation of specific employment standards, this should not dictate its exclusion from all forms of labour or social regulation.

3. Even in the case of educational or ALMP internships that are excluded from the operation of particular employment standards, such as minimum wages, it may be appropriate to establish modified entitlements or protections, especially for programmes that extend beyond a particular duration.

4. There should be minimum standards for the documentation of educational or ALMP placements, their duration, hours of work, requirements for specific learning outcomes to be achieved and the need to monitor what is happening at the relevant workplace.

5. Agencies responsible for the enforcement of labour standards and other social protections should be aware of the particular issues associated with internships, provide information and assistance to interns, educational institutions and organizations hosting internships, and take appropriate action against exploitative and unlawful arrangements.

6. Efforts should be made to improve access to good quality internships for those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Chosen excerpts by Job Market Monitor. Read the whole story @ Developing new standards for internships | VOCEDplus, the international tertiary education and research database