Are unpaid internships ending? The terms of the new law on internships have been published
A draft bill on internships has been added to the agenda of the Council of Ministers. It is to replace the current law on graduate work placements. The new regulations are to apply to internships and work placements on the open labour market (those forming parts of formal education programmes are to be excluded).
The most important elements of the proposed regulation are:
- A ban on unpaid internships – interns will be entitled to remuneration of not less than 35% of the national average monthly wage and not more than the average
- A limit on the maximum duration of an internship – it may last up to 6 months
- A limit on maximum working time – an intern’s working time may not exceed 8 hours per day and an average of 40 hours in an average five-day working week in an accepted settlement period not exceeding 4 months
- The introduction of paid leave for interns – 1 day off for each month of internship worked in the first 3 months of the internship and up to 2 days for each month of internship worked in the subsequent 3 months of the internship
- Care of interns – the organiser of the internship will have to appoint a mentor or guardian to guide the intern
- Mandatory parts of the contract – the internship contract will have to be in writing and specify, among other things, the objectives and programme of the internship and the scope of duties that are tailored to the intern’s needs.
The Council of Ministers is expected to adopt the bill in the fourth quarter of 2025.