In the consultation contribution, CESI calls for a new, binding and ambitious EU measure to improve the quality of traineeships – unless the European cross-sector social partners can agree on a comparable, effective alternative social partner agreement.

CESI Secretary General Klaus Heeger said: “Young people in the EU are far too often victims of low-quality, unpaid or abusive work conditions during their traineeships. 1 in 3 youngsters report working for free during their internships. With youth unemployment still high, the cost of living on the rise and the effects of the pandemic on youth still being felt, many young people are at risk of poverty.”

He added: “Additional protective measures are urgently needed to ensure that young people have access to quality traineeship experiences in which they gain the practical experience needed to later access the labour market and find stable quality jobs. These measures must specifically ensure that these opportunities provide meaningful learning experiences and contribute to the development of employability skills, while providing access to fair and decent pay, social protection and healthcare.”

In view of this, CESI’s consultation contribution calls for an EU-level measure which should in particular:

• set up clear standards and guidelines for traineeships across Europe, promoting access to social protection, healthcare, insurances and pension with clear references and indicators for quality, transparency, and fairness.
• specify the significance of appropriate guidance and supervision for trainees and put in place a mechanism to monitor learning outcomes.
• set the frame for an adequate  recognition and validation of traineeships as valuable experiences on participants’ educational and professional journeys.
• encourage Members States and their labour inspectorates to monitor improvements in the overall quality of traineeships.
• clarify that trainees have access to trade union and workers’ representation rights.

The full consultation contribution, which was developed in close cooperation with CESI Youth, is available here.