The Times Australia
Business and Money

It's time we stopped exploiting interns and paid them for the hours worked

  • Written by Anne Hewitt, Associate Professor, Law, University of Adelaide
It's time we stopped exploiting interns and paid them for the hours worked

Many people, at some stage in their search for a career, have worked for free in return for some much valued experience. But it’s surprisingly hard to find exact numbers.

A 2016 national survey[1] of 3,800 Australians found more than half (58%) of respondents aged 18 to 29 and more than a quarter (26%) aged 30 to 64 had done unpaid work at least once in the previous five years.

There is also data[2] suggesting more than a third (37.4%) of Australia’s university students are doing courses which involve real work as part of their tertiary studies. In 2017 that amounted to 451,263 work-related learning experiences.

This is not uniquely Australian. In 2013 an EU survey[3] of 12,921 people found 46% aged from 18 to 35 had done at least one internship, with more than half of those being unpaid.

Why people are prepared to work for free

So why are so many people around the world signing up to do unpaid jobs, in the guise of traineeships, internships or work experience.

One reason must be the strong promotion of internships as a step from education to employment. Employers have frequently identified practical experience[4] as an important factor in deciding who to hire.

Read more: During NAIDOC Week, many Indigenous women are assigned unpaid work. New research shows how prevalent this is in the workplace[5]

Internships have also been enthusiastically endorsed by many universities[6] plus industry and government[7] as a way to help students develop relevant skills to move into the graduate labour market.

Female employer explaining something to a junior worker
Many Australian students do unpaid work in the hope of securing work in their preferred career. Shutterstock[8]

With these groups backing internships, is it any wonder so many students and graduates believe an internship is essential to securing graduate employment?

But there’s a downside to internships stakeholders are reluctant to discuss.

Not everyone can get an internship

When internships are either a prerequisite for professional accreditation or pseudo mandatory - you can’t get a job without one - then only those who have completed a placement can enter the profession.

Those who can’t afford to do unpaid work[9] or lack the connections to secure a placement, may be left behind. This can be a tragedy for the individual, whose dreams of work in a particular industry might be dashed.

As well, the proliferation of unpaid (or low-paid) internships has the potential to have a much broader impact. It risks entrenching existing disadvantage[10] and limiting diversity in professions.

It may also displace paid employment and undermine labour standards, as employers replace paid workers with a revolving door of interns who are treated as “cheap dead-end labour[11]”.

Older employer shows young male trainee how a piece of electrical equipment works. Unlike in the EU, trainees in Australia have very few entitlements. Shutterstock[12]

This is not a theoretical concern, there is evidence[13] some of Australia’s tertiary students face obstacles which limit their capacity to secure or complete internships.

This includes[14] disadvantaged students, including those from low socio-economic backgrounds, rural areas, those who are Indigenous and others who cannot do work placements required to get professional accreditation.

These poor outcomes are driving calls for reform. The European parliament recently endorsed[15] a proposal to amend the 2014 Quality Framework for Traineeships requiring all trainees in EU countries be fairly remunerated.

What is being done to regulate internships

On top of this, a growing number of countries have increasingly tough regulations regarding internships. For example, France banned open market internships in 2014, and now only allows regulated internships which are completed by a university student as part of their studies.

The French regulation sets out stringent supervision requirements from both workplace host and university and obligations for payment when the internship exceeds a set period. Belgium, Estonia, Italy, Lithuania, Portugal and Slovenia have also implemented specific laws requiring payment[16] for open market traineeships.

The EU’s response to concerns about unpaid internships highlights the need for Australia to consider its position.

Currently, Australian regulations[17] fail to regulate internships in any comprehensive way.

Instead, there are piecemeal rules dealing with isolated issues such as protecting interns against discrimination or harassment or ensuring universities’ internship courses meet set standards.

Read more: Graduates beware, don't fall for that unpaid job advert[18]

While these issues are important, dealing with them in isolation does not resolve the broad and complex issues internships raise.

The future of unpaid work

Most stakeholders value internships so they are likely to continue. Therefore, we need to consider how they can be regulated to reduce negative outcomes and maximise the benefits. This will require a national debate to answer a range of difficult questions, including:

• what do we think the value of work is, and what is the impact of allowing unpaid work on individuals and society? Are we prepared to accept this impact?

• who should pay for training and skills development: individuals, employers, or society?

• who in our workplaces should be protected by labour laws and who should be excluded?

Once we have these answers, we can decide what the role of internships in Australia should be, and craft a regulatory regime to achieve that. Perhaps our conclusion should be, as articulated by the EU parliament, that it’s time we stopped exploiting interns and paid them a fair day’s pay.

References

  1. ^ national survey (www.dewr.gov.au)
  2. ^ also data (apo.org.au)
  3. ^ EU survey (europa.eu)
  4. ^ practical experience (www.highfliers.co.uk)
  5. ^ During NAIDOC Week, many Indigenous women are assigned unpaid work. New research shows how prevalent this is in the workplace (theconversation.com)
  6. ^ universities (onlinelibrary.wiley.com)
  7. ^ industry and government (www.aph.gov.au)
  8. ^ Shutterstock (www.shutterstock.com)
  9. ^ can’t afford to do unpaid work (www.tandfonline.com)
  10. ^ entrenching existing disadvantage (www.ippr.org)
  11. ^ cheap dead-end labour (www.bloomsbury.com)
  12. ^ Shutterstock (www.shutterstock.com)
  13. ^ evidence (www.universitiesaustralia.edu.au)
  14. ^ includes (www.universityworldnews.com)
  15. ^ recently endorsed (www.europarl.europa.eu)
  16. ^ payment (www.anpal.gov.it)
  17. ^ Australian regulations (search.informit.org)
  18. ^ Graduates beware, don't fall for that unpaid job advert (theconversation.com)

Authors: Anne Hewitt, Associate Professor, Law, University of Adelaide

Read more https://theconversation.com/its-time-we-stopped-exploiting-interns-and-paid-them-for-the-hours-worked-208025

Business Times

Agentforce for Financial Services: Merging AI and Human Expertise…

In this rapidly evolving world of financial services, deploying customer experiences that are personalized and intelligen...

Samsara Eco and lululemon announce 10 year partnership

lululemon and Samsara Eco Announce 10-Year Plan to Advance Recycled Material Portfolio Plan will see lululemon source a...

Barelli Bathrooms announces celebrity interior designer Kellie Ri…

Barelli Bathrooms, a leading name in contemporary bathroom accessories and design, is proud to announce its new national ...

The Times Features

The Role of Your GP in Creating a Chronic Disease Management Plan That Works

Living with a long-term condition, whether that is diabetes, asthma, arthritis or heart disease, means making hundreds of small decisions every day. You plan your diet against m...

Troubleshooting Flickering Lights: A Comprehensive Guide for Homeowners

Image by rawpixel.com on Freepik Effectively addressing flickering lights in your home is more than just a matter of convenience; it's a pivotal aspect of both home safety and en...

My shins hurt after running. Could it be shin splints?

If you’ve started running for the first time, started again after a break, or your workout is more intense, you might have felt it. A dull, nagging ache down your shins after...

Metal Roof Replacement Cost Per Square Metre in 2025: A Comprehensive Guide for Australian Homeowners

In recent years, the trend of installing metal roofs has surged across Australia. With their reputation for being both robust and visually appealing, it's easy to understand thei...

Why You’re Always Adjusting Your Bra — and What to Do Instead

Image by freepik It starts with a gentle tug, then a subtle shift, and before you know it, you're adjusting your bra again — in the middle of work, at dinner, even on the couch. I...

How to Tell If Your Eyes Are Working Harder Than They Should Be

Image by freepik Most of us take our vision for granted—until it starts to let us down. Whether it's squinting at your phone, rubbing your eyes at the end of the day, or feeling ...