* : Proposal of traineeship Directive fails to protect workers and brings confusion to Member States

Brussels, 03 April 2025

To: Members of the Working Party on Social Questions

Dear Members of the Working Party on Social Questions, 

We note with disappointment the reluctance of Member States to broaden the scope of the proposed Traineeships Directive, seemingly prioritizing the protection of national systems that, in the majority of cases, exploit young workers. Of particular concern is the directive’s restrictive focus on vaguely defined open labour market traineeships—a term frequently used in EU discussions but absent from any of the 27 member states' labour codes or common practices.  
This ambiguity creates confusion, enforcement challenges and risks undermining the very protections the directive aims to strengthen.
Shall this new definition be introduced, it needs to be based on their characteristics —open and accessible to anyone active in the labour market and fulfilling the requirements—rather than focusing on the profile of candidates who are accessing them.

Furthermore, we urge policymakers to consider the limited human and financial resources of labour inspectorates across the EU.
A Directive that merely reinforces controls of existing national models without strengthening rules on quality, accessibility and fairness, would fail to deliver meaningful improvements for trainees. 

A more comprehensive approach is necessary to ensure that all trainees, regardless of their specific status, receive adequate protection and fair working conditions.

We hope that you take the attached workers' assessment and suggestions for improvement into account for your next discussions. 

We remain at your disposal.

Kind regards,

Tea Jarc
Confederal Secretary