Under the leadership of the Socialists and Democrats, the European Parliament’s employment committee today agreed on a good and fair deal for European trainees. This agreement would put an end to the ‘wild west’ of traineeships and stop the exploitation of young Europeans as cheap or free labour.

The S&Ds are proud to have secured a pro-European majority despite attempts by the European People’s Party (EPP) to backtrack on the compromise, which could have significantly watered down the ambition.

The European Parliament’s committee has done its part, but the journey does not end here. Today’s agreement is expected to be confirmed at the plenary in the beginning of October. 

Afterwards, the S&D Group will do its utmost to defend this deal in the upcoming negotiations with EU member states. It will not be easy, as their current position is unacceptable for this house. 

Alicia Homs, S&D MEP and European Parliament’s rapporteur on traineeships, said:

“This is a good day. We are proud of the agreement reached with like-minded, pro-European forces. It gives hope to young Europeans that their work will one day be properly paid and treated with due respect. It also gives us all hope that we can still build bridges and come together on an issue of vital importance for our youth.

“So, today we are sending a message of hope to young Europeans. We listened to you - your voice matters, and it was heard. We have agreed on a strong and fair proposal for EU legislation that would ban unpaid traineeships and protect trainees against discrimination and abuse. For young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in particular, this would mean a fair chance.

“With the report adopted today, the European Parliament’s employment committee calls for: a strong and clear definition of traineeships; a broader scope covering the vast majority of trainees in Europe; securing minimum rights across Europe; ambitious standards on pay, social protection and the duration of traineeships; and strong safeguards for equal treatment and trade union access.

“We have known from the start that this battle would not be easy, but we pledge to defend this deal. We remain fully committed to ensuring quality traineeships for young people - because good and fair traineeships open the door to decent living conditions or promising careers. We owe it to young Europeans.”

Note to editors:

Read more about the alarming reality faced by trainees in Europe, the risks posed by the lack of regulation for workers’ rights, and solutions to secure fair pay and full rights for trainees in the S&D report, conducted by Joanna Helme, University of Oxford.(opens in a new tab)

The current situation of trainees in Europe, according to Eurobarometer and Eurostat:

Nearly 80% of Europeans aged 18 to 35 complete a traineeship. However, almost half of all trainees receive no pay at all, and those who do are often only partly reimbursed for their expenses.

More than half of young people complete at least two traineeships, as the bar for securing a paid job and entering the labour market continues to rise.

Nearly one third of young people say that a lack of pay prevents them from gaining work experience, exacerbating social inequalities between those who can afford unpaid work and those who cannot.

Even before the cost-of-living crisis, the average young European spent €1,200 per month on living expenses. Yet, most traineeships today fail to cover basic monthly costs, let alone provide a minimum wage.

The process towards European legislation on traineeships:

June 2023: The European Parliament adopted a progressive and ambitious report on quality traineeships.

March 2024: The European Commission presented its legislative proposal, under the lead of Nicolas Schmit, social democrat and former commissioner for jobs and social rights. 

Following the Commission’s proposal, the two co-legislators – the European Parliament and the Council, representing EU member states – establish their respective positions as mandates for negotiations on the final legislation.

June 2025: The Council adopted its position, which the S&Ds consider unacceptable as it excludes around 75% of trainees in Europe and lacks key protections. By focusing mainly on disguised employment, it fails to address other widespread abuses. 

September 2025: The European Parliament’s employment committee endorsed its report, prepared by S&D MEP Alicia Homs. This report is expected to be confirmed by the European Parliament at the plenary in the beginning of October.

Once confirmed, the Parliament’s final position which serve as the basis for negotiations with EU member states.