Traineeships directive, EU Parliament prepares for tug-of-war with governments. For Zingaretti it is an “historic milestone”

Brussels – Traineeships: The EU Parliament shows signs of life. Members of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) today (23 September) approved its position on the European Commission’s legislative proposal, known as the Traineeships Directive. The green disk received 42 votes in favour, nine votes against, and six abstentions. For the rapporteur, Spanish socialist Alicia Homs Ginel, it is a message to young people that “their work is important and their rights must be protected.” 

Specifically, the crucial points concern the obligation to unequivocally specify in contracts a number of fundamental elements to “prevent abusive practices towards trainees.” These include: the indication of the retribution, the limited duration of the relationship, the tasks envisaged (basic level), and the type of social protection offered. This should “unmask” the employment contracts misrepresented as traineeships, which companies and employers sometimes resort to in order to underpay labour, often young and very young, by demanding complex services without offering any protection whatsoever. Mandatory internships that are part of study or apprenticeship programs would be excluded from the “restrictions.”

The centre-left is particularly jubilant. Nicola Zingaretti, leader of the PD delegation and rapporteur of the dossier for the Culture and Education (CULT) commission, triumphantly hails a “historic milestone” in the direction of ending “the ‘far west’ of internships in Europe.” The former dem secretary claims a clear position on the part of the Strasbourg Chamber, while recognising its nature as a “compromise”: “Internships must not be synonymous with exploitation, but useful tools for training and entry into the world of work,” he concludes.

A “step forward” also for Gaetano Pedullà (5 Star Movement), with the aim of “really protecting young people in the labour market.” “If today many young people leave Italy to go and look for a secure and better-paid job abroad, it is also because of the poor conditions in the world of work and the norms that reinforce precariousness,” he notes. And he hopes that the Member States will not settle for a “downward compromise that minimises the rights of young people and humiliates their aspirations,” even if so far the signs are were not positive. 

From the ranks of the Green-Left Alliance, Benedetta Scuderi claims the transformation of “a bland and non-binding proposal” by the EU executive into “a legislative instrument that can really respond to the expectations and needs of girls and boys entering the world of labour.” The environmentalist MEP, currently
on the way to Gaza, aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla, emphasises in particular some key elements such as “mandatory remuneration and social protection; written agreements with detailed content; strict limits on duration and renewals; no previous experience required; stronger inclusiveness measures; targeted implementation mechanisms.” 

The Parliament’s position, if finally approved during the next plenary session, will then serve as the basis for interinstitutional negotiations with the Council. The so-called traineeship directive was put on the table by the European Commission in March last year, following pressure from the Strasbourg Chamber. However, given the  less-than-enthusiastic reactions of small and medium-sized enterprises, negotiations with national governments are likely to prove challenging.