Young people who are lured in by an internship but in reality will do the same job as a paid employee are entitled to decent remuneration, says the minister of Social Affairs and Employment (SZW). ‘Misconduct is unacceptable,’ Asscher writes in a letter to the House of Representatives.
An investigation by FNV Jong already revealed that progressively more graduates in ‘work experience positions’ are doing full-time work for less than the minimum wage. According to Asscher, the first reports show that this is mainly the case in specific industries, such as mental healthcare, architecture and communications and marketing.
‘Misconduct primarily seems to occur in industries where it is difficult for entry-level workers to get a paid position because the number of graduates available on the labour market is higher than the demand,’ says the minister.
Reports
Nevertheless, few interns actually complain to the Inspectorate SZW. They often agree to the working conditions because they view the internship as a necessary stepping stone to work. They see it as an investment for higher chances to get a paid position.
To this end, Asscher wishes to provide students with better information regarding their rights through the website inspectieszw.nl. It should also become easier in the future to take matters to court by digitising the procedure. Interns can then submit a request to court through an online form.
Up to now, the Inspectorate has reviewed 15 reports of possible misconduct. In ten of the cases, the complaints were unfounded; however, for two employers there were cases of employment instead of an internship. Three investigations are still pending.
Due to the fact that so few interns are reporting cases, Asscher wants to conduct a larger investigation in 2017 to gain better insight into where internship misconduct occurs. Asscher wishes to speak with those that violate the rules and point out their responsibilities. The Inspectorate is also authorised to impose a maximum fine of 10,000 euros.