Will every intern finally receive compensation? And four other questions
Minister of Education, Culture and Science Rianne Letschert (D66) has informed the parliament that she intends to make internship compensation mandatory for mbo, hbo and university students. But does such a payment still make sense without a minimum amount? And which students would actually benefit from this? Five questions about internship compensation.
1. Which students stand to benefit?
The biggest gains are likely to be made in vocational education (mbo), where currently only 43 per cent of interns receive any form of compensation. But not all university interns are paid either: research by ResearchNed in 2023 found that 35 per cent of university students undertaking a compulsory internship received no compensation at all. For that group, Minister Letschert’s proposal could provide a solution. However, students about to start an internship should not count on the extra income just yet. If the legislation is passed, it is unlikely to come into force before 2028.
2. Which sectors currently do not offer internship compensation?
In recent years, much attention has focused on students who intern at university medical centres (UMCs) – not medical students on clinical placements, but, for example, trainee nurses – without receiving any compensation. Under the collective labour agreement, they are entitled to an internship allowance of €500 per month. However, the Dutch Federation of University Medical Centres has introduced a number of criteria which, in practice, mean that some students still do not receive any payment. For example, the hospitals drew up a list of degree programmes they classify as “internal”, meaning the internship is regarded as a regular part of the curriculum. Students enrolled on those programmes therefore do not receive compensation for their internships.
As for medical students undertaking clinical placements to gain experience in hospitals, they are not eligible for internship compensation at all. They do, however, receive an expense allowance of €300 per month.
3. Why is compulsory internship compensation only being introduced now?
A frequently cited argument from employers’ organisations such as VNO-NCW has long been that mandatory compensation would reduce the number of internship opportunities available. Politicians opposed to such a requirement have also traditionally pointed to collective labour agreements as an alternative way of securing internship payments. Ultimately, it has been growing pressure from the vocational education sector (mbo) that has pushed the issue higher up the political agenda.
4. If there is no minimum amount, does this proposal actually make sense?
The minister certainly believes it does. According to Letschert, introducing a minimum payment could indeed have the unintended effect feared by VNO-NCW, with employers responding by offering fewer internship places. That would be problematic given that there is already a shortage of placements in the current system. The minister also argues that not every sector is able to pay the same amounts. For that reason, employers will initially be expected to determine an appropriate level of compensation themselves. However, Letschert has added that she is prepared to include a statutory minimum payment if internship allowances remain very low.
5. What do students think of the proposal?
The Dutch National Student Association (LSVb) has said it is not satisfied with the proposal. According to the national student union, it does not address “the structural problems faced by interns”. The organisation is therefore calling for a mandatory internship allowance of €1,020 per month. The Interstedelijk Studenten Overleg (ISO), the national student representative body, is also less than enthusiastic about the plans and argues that “a reasonable minimum compensation” is necessary.
