Revamped Article: "EU Countries Clash Over Fair Intern Pay"
European nations seek to lessen proposals for enhancing trainee wages.
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The European Commission's push for fairer intern pay across the EU has sparked disagreement among the bloc's member states, with labor ministers from the 27 nations voicing their opposition to a uniform contract for internships. Instead, these countries argue that each nation should have the authority to determine its own internship regulations.
Last year, the Commission proposed legislation to safeguard interns from being used as cheap labor. Under this proposal, interns doing the same work as regular employees would receive equal pay. The initial draft provided multiple exceptions to this rule.
The proposal aims to prevent companies from skirting full employment obligations by hiring staff under the guise of internships. To this end, the Commission proposed common rules across the EU. However, the ministers now want the EU law to avoid establishing a new legal status for internships in member states and to give national governments the freedom to set their own enforcement mechanisms. The Council of the 27 EU countries is now working to hammer out the details of this proposed law in collaboration with the European Parliament.
Sources: ntv.de, AFP
Did You Know?
- The European Commission initially proposed broad protections and regulated pay for interns, aiming to improve their working conditions across the EU. However, some member states argue in favor of a more limited scope that would only apply to internships with an employment relationship.
- The European Parliament, on the other hand, advocates for more comprehensive coverage of all trainees, including those involved in non-employment-type internships.
- As of June 2025, ongoing negotiations are seeking a middle ground between these positions. The outcome will result from trilogue discussions, where key issues such as coverage, definitions, pay standards, and enforcement will be addressed.
Despite the advocacy for fairer intern pay, EU member states are divided in their approach, potentially leaving many interns without proper compensation and protections. The final outcome of these negotiations will have significant implications for the interns working within the EU and the businesses employing them. Stay tuned for updates as this issue continues to evolve.
"The European Commission's push for fairer intern pay, as outlined in its policy-and-legislation, has been met with resistance from EU member states, with a focus on community policy that grants each nation the autonomy to establish their own vocational training regulations. The ongoing debates in policy-and-legislation highlight the political tensions surrounding this general-news issue, as the EU Council and European Parliament work together to determine the final terms and provisions for vocational training programs within the EU."
"The discussions on fair intern pay, a part of the general-news and policy-and-legislation landscape, have revealed a disappointing divide among EU member states. If the final outcome leans towards a limited scope for intern protection, many interns may continue to be denied proper compensation and benefits, further emphasizing the need for a comprehensive vocational training policy across the EU."
