EU traineeships directive
Youth unemployment in the EU is a perennial problem, with unemployment among the under 25s more than twice as high as among the general population. In this context, good quality traineeships can be a way for young people to enter into the labour market. However, some traineeships are essentially regular employment relationships in disguise. Some are of poor quality, with no or very low remuneration, no access to social protection and a weak learning component. There is also the issue of unequal access to traineeships arising from various social barriers. While traineeships are the competence of the EU Member States, the EU introduced a set of common standards in 2014 to promote high-quality traineeships. The European Commission evaluated implementation of these standards in 2022 and found progress towards better traineeships, but room for further action to address certain problematic and unlawful situations that can arise with respect to traineeships.
Briefing