The European Parliament aims to introduce a complete ban on unpaid internships, but some countries advocate for exceptions. Lithuania is among them. Although a separate student internship employment contract and a mandatory minimum wage were proposed in the Seimas last winter, the attempt to amend the Labor Code sparked discussions.
Read more Emmanuel Macron calls on the EC leader to ban social networks for children under 15 years old
The Lithuanian business community supported the principle that value created must be paid for, but warned that mandatory payment for all internships could reduce opportunities to complete mandatory study internships.
Why is the first internship so important today?
Daiva Kasperavičienė, Head of People, Culture and Law at Telia, points out that the opportunity to do an internship is more important for young people today than ever before: “Artificial intelligence is rapidly taking over basic tasks that for many years were the first step for beginner specialists, so the first career steps are becoming increasingly difficult. Quality internships that provide real skills help young people enter the labor market, so preserving these opportunities is a task for all of us,” she says.
The largest organization uniting European employers, BusinessEurope, also emphasizes that academic and exploratory internships are part of the learning process, not work performed under an employment contract. According to the organization, introducing mandatory pay for all internships without exception could force companies, especially small and medium-sized businesses, to reduce the number of students they accept.
50 students – for one internship position
According to D. Kasperavičienė, internship situations can vary greatly. “When a company itself looks for interns and has a clear need, a real contribution from the student is expected – such an internship is an investment in a future specialist, so it is paid. But it can also be different: students apply themselves for mandatory study internships even when the company does not have a free position at that time. In such cases, colleagues dedicate their time so that young people can get acquainted with the profession and gain their first skills. If all internships became mandatorily paid, such exploratory opportunities would likely become fewer,” the manager says.
The experience of employers also shows that it is important for students not only to find an internship place but also to gain real experience there. This year, when Telia announced a selection for 15 paid internship positions in IT and network engineering, the company received nearly 800 applications in two weeks – on average, more than 50 students competed for one position. During six months of internship, some of them got involved in real product development, communication infrastructure, and 5G network development work.
Internship opened doors to work
However, the initiative is often shown by the students themselves. One intern applied to Telia herself, even though no official internship positions were announced at that time. The company found an opportunity to provide her with a mentor and conditions to learn, and the internship became the first step toward permanent employment. The young woman received her university diploma already as a full-time employee in the sustainability team.
It is precisely because of such situations, according to Telia’s Head of People, Culture and Law, that it is important to maintain flexibility and not close doors to those who seek opportunities to learn and gain first experience themselves. Therefore, a sign of good practice, according to her, is not only payment. Equally important is whether the student has the opportunity to work with experienced colleagues, receive feedback, perform meaningful tasks, and see how theoretical knowledge works in real work.
“Therefore, when discussing the future of internships, it is important to evaluate not only their formal conditions but also the experience a young person takes away. If after a few months of internship a student can say that they learned what they would not have learned at university, got to know their profession from the inside, and better understood where they want to move next, such an internship has already done its most important job,” she says.
Read more Chase near Maišiagala: minibus with cigarettes worth 140 thousand euros detained
