The EU prepares to reform internship rules: mandatory payment, contracts and social protection — the changes will also affect Cyprus

The European Parliament has approved a mandate to start negotiations with EU member states on introducing new pan-European standards for internships. The aim of the initiative is to end the exploitation of unpaid labor and guarantee young people fair conditions for professional training across all EU countries, including Cyprus.

The project, prepared by the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, provides for the introduction of uniform rules regulating remuneration, duration and quality of internships, as well as ensuring social protection for interns. According to the authors, internships should have clearly defined learning objectives, correspond to the initial level of qualification and not replace genuine employment relationships.

According to the proposal, each internship must be accompanied by a written contract specifying payment terms, obligations of the parties, duration, learning goals and control mechanisms. In addition, young professionals will be granted access to social protection systems, including health insurance and compensation in case of accidents.

Unpaid internships without an educational component or mentorship will be considered a violation of labor rights. Each organization hosting interns will be required to appoint a responsible employee to whom interns can turn in case of breaches of contract conditions or conflicts.

The rapporteur of the initiative, MEP Alicia Homs Ginel (S&D, Spain), stated that the Parliament’s decision sends a signal to millions of young Europeans: “Internships must ensure real rights, decent pay and safe working conditions. We are taking a decisive step so that every young person starts their career with respect and confidence in the future.”

After the approval of the Parliament’s position, trilogue negotiations between the Parliament, the EU Council and the European Commission will begin to prepare the final text of the directive.

For Cyprus, the adoption of this legislation will have direct consequences. As an EU member state, Cyprus will be obliged to align its national legislation with the new directive. This means that Cypriot companies, public institutions and universities will no longer be able to offer unpaid internships without an official contract.

Students and graduates of Cypriot universities undergoing internships will gain the right to remuneration and social protection, including health insurance. The Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance of Cyprus will be required to introduce monitoring and inspection mechanisms to ensure compliance with the new requirements.

The changes will also affect international programs in which Cypriot students actively participate, including Erasmus+ and other pan-European initiatives. In addition, Cypriot representatives are involved in finalizing the directive text within the EU Council, where its final version will be approved.

Thus, the reform will affect the labor market, the education system and the quality of internships in Cyprus, where practice is an important part of the learning process, especially at universities in Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca and Paphos.

The material was published as part of the “EP: Your Voice, Your Future” program, financed by the European Union through European Parliament communication grants. The Parliament itself did not participate in preparing the material and bears no responsibility for the views expressed therein.