Interns Revealed - internships as a cheap way to substitute workforce
The higher the youth unemployment rate in Europe rises, the more companies offer young graduates un(der)paid internships. They say ‘yes’ because they are desperate. Therefore the European Youth Forum (YFJ) has taken up an initiative with other partners to improve the situation of internships in Europe. Internships should provide a learning experience for young people to facilitate successful integration into the labour market; however, there has been an increased prevalence of internships serving as precarious employment for young people—a cheap way to substitute workforce. In addition, young interns are performing tasks that do not contribute to professional development. This is described in the YFJ publication titled ‘Interns Revealed’ by author Inger Dyrnes.
Quality guidelines for internships across Europe
To combat this trend, there is an urgent need to properly identify the scope of the problem, therefore the European Youth Forum has created a short survey on internship experiences in Europe. This data has provided a better representation of the real situation of internships regarding access to internships, mentoring, renumeration and job opportunities. And such data will help to advocate Europe-wide for a more beneficial internship experience and transition from education to employment for young people and further confirm the need for a European Quality Charter Internships that establishes quality guidelines for internships across Europe.
About the European Youth Forum
The European Youth Forum (YFJ) is the platform of youth
organisations in Europe. Independent, democratic and youth-led, it
represents 98 National Youth Councils and International Youth
Organisations from across the continent. The Forum works to empower
young people to participate actively in society to improve their
own lives, by representing and advocating their needs and interests
and those of their organisations towards the European Institutions,
the Council of Europe and the United Nations.