A new poll showing young people want the EU to prioritise action to address the cost-of-living, jobs and training demonstrates why the European Commission needs to deliver the traineeship directive.
The EU Youth Survey published today by the European Parliament shows that the priorities of people aged between 16 and 30 are:
- Rising prices and the cost of living
- The environment and climate change
- The economic situation and the creation of jobs
- Social protection, welfare and access to healthcare
- Education and access to training
- Housing
The European Commission proposed the Directive on Traineeships last March, a move which would help end the exploitation faced by young people in the labour market by banning unpaid internships.
However this poll comes amid lobbying by Business Europe for the directive to be withdrawn as part of a Trump-style deregulation drive in which they also want to see the right to pay transparency removed from two-thirds of women workers.
The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) says the results of the EU Youth Survey show why the Commission, Ministers and MEPs need to deliver on their promise to young people.
ETUC Confederal Secretary Tea Jarc said:
“The results of the EU Youth Survey are a very timely reminder of why the Traineeship Directive is so badly needed.
“Not only are millions of young people not being fairly paid for their hard work, but unpaid internships mean they need to subsidise their own employment to the tune of €1028 a month.
“That means too many young people are excluded from a range of careers, not because of talent but because of inequality.
“Young people want to see a fairer and greener Europe – not a deregulation agenda that puts their rights or the environment at risk.
“The high support of young people for the European project is based on it being one of hope, progress and opportunities - the Commission should not take it for granted.”
