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Cabinet Backs Intern Statute, Sending It to Congress

The proposal tightens internships with a 480‑hour cap, mandatory expense compensation, plus penalties that can reach €225,018.

Overview

  • Approved in second reading on March 3, the draft heads to a difficult parliamentary process with no assured majority as the CEOE and parties including PP, Vox and Junts signal opposition.
  • The measure targets non‑labor practical training across universities and vocational programs, banning students from paying to intern and restricting night or shift rotations except where the specialty requires it.
  • Companies would face organizational limits such as a maximum of 20% interns on staff, a floor of two trainees for small firms, and tutor‑to‑trainee ratios capped at five to one (three to one in firms with fewer than 30 workers).
  • The text defines when an internship is actually employment, including cases where a trainee replaces a regular worker or performs tasks unrelated to their academic program, aiming to curb “false interns.”
  • Enforcement includes a tiered sanctions regime with very serious offenses fined up to €225,018 and a new anonymous reporting channel that routes complaints to the Labor Inspectorate.