Majority of MBO students do not receive an internship allowance, minister calls for action | Politics

The minister’s call follows the results of new research by ResearchNed into internships throughout further education. This shows that it is mainly MBO students who undertake unpaid internships. In higher professional education, approximately three in four students receive an internship allowance, in academic education this concerns two in three students.

In addition, research shows that many collective labor agreements lack agreements on internship allowances. And although reimbursements are increasingly being equalized, MBO students often receive a lower reimbursement than HBO and WO students. These groups often earn more than 400 euros per month, while many MBO students earn less than that.

“The lack of compensation or a collective labor agreement, the differences between students – that really needs to change,” says Dijkgraaf. The outgoing cabinet would prefer not to oblige employers, because it is a matter between employers and employees.

It is not the first time that the minister has called for appropriate internship compensation for all students. He also did this more than a year ago, when he concluded the MBO Internship Pact with youth organizations, trade unions and employers.

Researchers also looked at what internships look like in different sectors. Positive developments can be seen in hospitals, the catering industry and construction. But there is still much to be gained in education.

In that sector, 77 percent of higher professional education students do not receive an internship allowance. Dijkgraaf therefore urges additional efforts from employers in primary and secondary education. “Especially at a time with major staff shortages, where we are doing everything we can to combat the teacher shortage, teaching trainees should receive appropriate compensation,” says the minister.

Dijkgraaf and outgoing minister Mariëlle Paul (Primary and Secondary Education) call on the social partners in primary and secondary education to come up with a national internship compensation scheme.

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