5:40 24 July 2025
Poland to end unpaid internships
The Ministry of Family, Labor, and Social Policy is preparing legislation to ban unpaid internships. On Wednesday, it held pre-consultations with youth groups, NGOs, and public institutions to gather input. “Young people entering the labor market are particularly vulnerable to unfair and unequal treatment. We want to end this,” said Minister Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk.
The ministry aims to build a fair system where all work—including that done by entry-level workers—is compensated. The issue extends across Europe. As Dziemianowicz-Bąk noted, under Poland’s EU Council presidency, member states adopted recommendations to support a directive prohibiting unpaid internships.
The planned law will ensure interns are paid and protected, making internships more appealing not only to students but also to job seekers and career changers. While internships will remain a tool for gaining experience, they must offer fair compensation and safeguards against exploitation.
Source: businessinsider.com.pl
