Could the new regulations limit work placements?
The draft Internship Act (UD307), prepared by the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy, is causing increasing controversy among employer organisations. An assessment of the effect of the regulation is that mandatory remuneration and new formal requirements could mean that 47.8% of firms will cease offering internships.
The draft provides for:
- the introduction of a minimum wage of 35% of the average wage,
- the obligation to enter into detailed internship agreements,
- a limit on the maximum duration of an internship to six months,
- the appointment of a mentor,
- the provision of social security for interns.
Business organisations emphasise that the new regulations could burden micro, small, and medium-sized businesses.
Critics of the draft also indicate that the ministry does not have complete data on the scale and functioning of internships on the open labour market. The opinion is that there is a risk that, rather than improving the situation of interns, the new regulations will limit the number of available places and make it more difficult for young persons to gain first vocational experiences.