MANILA, Philippines – Senator Risa Hontiveros has filed a bill seeking to protect interns against exploitation from companies and promote their professional growth.
The Senate Bill No. 994 or the Interns’ Rights and Welfare bill lists down the responsibilities of host training establishments (HTE) to their interns, with the end view of establishing a proper and relevant experience for them.
“Internship is for students and young people to learn more about the workplace and to deepen their craft. Internship is not an excuse for employers to take advantage of cheap or free labor,” she said in a statement.
“Dahil walang employer-employee relationship, maraming nagiging kaso ng exploitation at kawalan ng professional growth,” she added.
The proposed measure requires any employer who chooses to host interns to come up with a contract and program that details the professional training of interns. It also seeks to strengthen schools vetting process for HTEs.
“Schools have a responsibility to accredit reputable HTEs for their students and to ensure that students do not undergo internship in companies with dubious internship programs,” the senator said. “Hindi pwedeng ipag-intern mo yung mga estudyante sa mga kumpanyang may questionable labor practices na pwedeng maglagay sa kanila sa alanganin.”
The measure also seeks to put a cap on internship hours.
Internship should not exceed 300 hours, nor last for more than 6 months in the government sector while in industry-based internships that are more technical in nature, internship hours are capped at 660 hours per semester, which is equivalent to 15 units per term.
The bill also protects all interns from any form of workplace abuse and harassment.
Senate Bill No. 994 contains the following key provisions:
- providing basic benefits and remuneration (75% of the prevailing minimum wage in the region for private companies and 75% of Step 1 Salary Grade 1 for interns in the public sector);
- appropriating funds for government agencies to host interns in order to promote public and civil service among young people; and
- a grievance mechanism to address any violation of basic interns’ rights.
“Preparing our young people for the workforce includes a viable internship program that centers on their professional growth,” Hontiveros said.
“Our country’s policy on interns reflects how we value humane and decent work. It is time to put a stop to internship horror stories. It is time to stop the abuse and exploitation of interns as part of our education and labor policies,” she concluded.
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