Beginning this year, MBO students must receive at least one expense allowance during their internship. As they do not receive any remuneration, they usually bear the costs themselves, such as traveling to the internship site.
This is the most important agreement in the Mbo Phase Agreement signed today by Education Minister Dijkgraaf, youth organisations, employers and trade unions and others.
MBO trainees are still treated differently from vocational school students who receive, for example, an expense allowance and an internship allowance. And that has to change, say the signatories.
In addition to the spending allowance, MBO students must also receive a future internship allowance. Interested parties should make joint agreements on this issue. It is not yet clear how high this compensation will be.
Eliminate discrimination in internships
The Internship Agreement also stipulates that the state, schools and education companies are jointly responsible for prohibiting discrimination in internships.
A test is taking place involving some MBO schools and a leading group of companies: schools place students as apprentices based on their learning needs. Companies then have to accept these trainees and are not allowed to look at personal characteristics. The so-called “click conversations” between trainees and companies, where they check for a match, disappear.
Meanwhile, it is examining whether the process is appropriate to combat discrimination, for example, against people with non-Dutch surnames.
The phased deal runs until 2027. The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science invests 30 million euros in it.
Source: NOS
Emma Fitzgerald is an accomplished political journalist and author at The Nation View. With a background in political science and international relations, she has a deep understanding of the political landscape and the forces that shape it.
