European Youth Forum welcomes strong proposal on a European Quality Framework for Traineeships but still asserts that remuneration is not optional

Brussels, 4 December 2012 // The European Youth Forum (YFJ) welcomes the European Commission’s (EC) proposal for a Council Recommendation on a Quality Framework for Traineeships.

The EC proposal aims at improving the quality of traineeships by setting standards and calling on Member States to ensure that national law or practice respect them.

Youth Forum President Peter Matjašič said: “We are very pleased that this Commission proposal includes strong quality criteria, which are all very much in line with our European Quality Charter for Internships and Apprenticeships.”

In particular, the Youth Forum praises the Commission’s recommendations that traineeships should include:

• The presence of a written traineeship agreement;

• Clear indication of learning objectives and tasks to enable these objectives to be reached, as well as the designation of a supervisor;

• Respect for trainees’ rights under applicable EU and national law;

• Reference to reasonable duration of traineeships and restricted use of extension and renewal of traineeships;

• Strong emphasis on transparency requirements, to ensure that traineeship providers include in their vacancy notices information on the terms and conditions of the traineeship.

The Youth Forum calls for an urgent establishment of national legislation aligned with the principles set in the proposal and is ready to play its role in the implementation and promotion of the Recommendation as foreseen in the EC proposal both at European and national levels.

However, the Youth Forum regrets that the Commission did not express a strong position on the right to receive remuneration and/or adequate compensation: this makes the proposal weak in terms of ensuring the full accessibility of traineeships to young people regardless of their social background and ensuring a fair and equal access to the labour market.

Mr Matjašič said: “The Commission refers to rights and working conditions for trainees but leaves the question of remuneration open. If a trainee is entitled to adequate working conditions, then remuneration itself should be a right.”

In addition, the Youth Forum strongly disagrees with the Commission’s proposal to use European Social and Regional Development Funds to increase the number of traineeships offered in the open labour market. The Youth Forum maintains that these funds should instead be used to support traineeships taking place within educational pathways or to create real employment opportunities for young people.