MEPs Back New Rules to Clamp Down on Exploitative Traineeships Across the EU

The European Parliament has endorsed a negotiating mandate to tighten rules on traineeships, aiming to stamp out abusive practices and ensure that young people across the bloc enjoy fair pay, proper contracts and access to social protection.

In a vote in Strasbourg MEPs gave the green light for talks with EU governments on new legislation designed to improve the quality of traineeships. The move follows growing concerns that many companies are misusing internship schemes to fill regular job vacancies without offering fair pay or legal protections.

The proposal, drafted by the Parliament’s Employment and Social Affairs Committee, would require all traineeships to be based on written agreements outlining pay, tasks, learning objectives and duration. It also seeks to bring clarity to the distinction between genuine training opportunities and situations where companies are effectively exploiting young workers.

Under the Parliament’s position, traineeships should be strictly time-limited and should focus on entry-level work that builds skills and experience. MEPs want the new rules to apply to all types of traineeships, with the exception of compulsory internships that form part of academic qualifications and formal apprenticeships.

One of the key provisions is to ensure that trainees are covered by national social protection schemes such as health insurance, and that they receive remuneration in line with national legislation. The Parliament also wants organisations to appoint a dedicated point of contact who trainees can approach if they encounter problems, including suspected malpractice.

Any traineeship that lacks genuine training content, fails to provide mentorship or evaluation, or does not comply with pay requirements would be classified as abusive. Companies disguising standard employment under the label of “internships” would face stricter oversight once the rules are transposed into national law.

Rapporteur Alicia Homs Ginel MEP, who led the file through Parliament, welcomed the outcome of the vote. “Today the European Parliament is sending a clear signal to millions of young Europeans: traineeships must offer real rights, fair pay, and decent working conditions,” she said. “We are taking a decisive step towards ensuring every young person can start their career with dignity and security. Parliament now stands ready to work closely with the Council on an agreement worthy of Europe’s youth.”

The initiative reflects long-standing criticism of the so-called “internship economy” in several EU member states, where unpaid or poorly paid internships have become a common, sometimes unavoidable, step on the career ladder. Young graduates often find themselves cycling through multiple traineeships without ever securing a permanent job, raising questions about social mobility and economic fairness.

In countries such as Spain, Italy and France, internships are frequently used by companies as a source of cheap labour, with little in the way of structured training or mentoring. EU officials argue that this practice undermines fair competition, disadvantages those from less privileged backgrounds, and ultimately weakens the labour market.

The European Commission initially presented its draft directive on traineeship quality standards in response to a 2023 resolution from the European Parliament, which called for minimum standards on duration, remuneration and access to social protection. The proposal seeks to balance respect for national labour systems with common principles ensuring that traineeships genuinely support career development rather than replace paid jobs.

With both the Parliament and the Council of the EU having now adopted their negotiating positions, interinstitutional “trilogue” negotiations can begin. These talks will determine the final shape of the directive, which will then need to be transposed into national law by all 27 member states.

If agreed, the directive would mark a significant step in strengthening labour protections for young people at the European level. The EU’s existing framework, dating back to 2014, consists largely of non-binding recommendations. Campaigners and youth organisations have long argued that such voluntary guidelines are insufficient to prevent abuse.

Reactions from youth groups have been broadly positive. The European Youth Forum said in a statement that the Parliament’s position “has the potential to change the reality for thousands of interns trapped in cycles of unpaid work” but stressed the importance of ensuring strong enforcement mechanisms.

Member states are expected to scrutinise the Parliament’s amendments closely. Some governments have expressed concern about the administrative burden of stricter rules, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises. Others, however, view the move as essential to levelling the playing field across the single market.

The negotiations are expected to take several months. If agreement is reached in 2026, member states would then have a transition period to adapt their national legislation.

For Europe’s younger generation, often the hardest hit by precarious employment, the stakes are high. The Parliament’s message is clear: traineeships should be a bridge into the labour market — not a dead end.

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