Internships or work placements are a great way for young and aspiring students to get their foot in the door of the working world. It is an opportunity to see the reality of the career you are interested in pursuing.
While internships and student work placements seem like a benefit for every student’s CV, they does come with their hardships as many companies who offer work experience do so with no intention of paying their interns. This becomes a burden to students who are expected to perform to the same standard as the company’s employees but without the benefits. This results in students having to support themselves, with some having to look for part-time work to earn a living.
This can progress to students feeling burnt out or exhausted with balancing the expectations required from the companies, the office hours, the same workload, as well as management tasks, while also trying to support their own standard of living.
In Ireland, under the National Minimum Wage Act that was introduced in 2000, students are entitled to the national minimum wage during internships or placements. The Workplace Relations Commission said:
“Apart from the employment of close family relatives, there is no exemption in law from the obligation to pay the national minimum hourly rate of pay. Therefore, national minimum wage rates apply to work experience placements.”
If you sign a contract with an employer in which your position is defined as an ‘intern’, you are still entitled to have basic employment rights, including the right to a safe working environment, data protection rights, protection against discrimination, the right to adequate breaks and holidays, and the right to join a union.
Failure of companies to abide by the National Minimum Wage Act could face up to a €2,500 fine or imprisonment of up to six months.
Beyond the financial strain, unpaid student work placements create unfairness and inequality in the workplace. Students who are in a position to support themselves financially are open to more intern or placement roles compared to other students.
Students also may feel pressure to accept unpaid roles as it might lessen career-altering opportunities and therefore jeopardise their future. This developed culture normalises unpaid labour and sets unrealistic expectations for young workers entering the job market.
While placement opportunities provide educational and rewarding skill-building opportunities, it can also place financial and emotional strain on students. Know your employee rights when entering a contractual role and ensure to read the fine print. It is important to ensure placement roles remain an educational opportunity and not exploitative labour.
