CEC European Managers Advocates for Quality Traineeships in Meeting with MEP Alicia Homs

Olga Molina, Director of CEC European Managers, and Maxime Legrand, President of CEC European Managers, met with MEP Alicia Homs at the EU Parliament in Brussels on Thursday, 29 January, to address the Directive on a Framework for Quality Traineeships. The conversation addressed managerial needs across Europe while ensuring fairness, quality, and workforce development.

Alicia Homs (Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament) is also rapporteur for the Quality Traineeships Directive.

According to a Eurobarometer survey, 44% of trainees in the EU receive no financial compensation, with just five Member States accounting for 90% of all paid internships.

CEC European Managers firmly advocated for an EU-wide ban on unpaid internships, aligning with recommendations from the European Economic and Social Committee and the conclusions of the Conference on the Future of Europe.

From left to right: Maxime Legrand (CEC President), Alicia Homs (MEP), Olga Molina (CEC Director)

The discussion included setting minimum remuneration standards and referencing Directive 2022/2041 on adequate minimum wages as a precedent. These standards would ensure fair compensation for trainees while respecting local living costs and national economic conditions. CEC European Managers pushed for enhanced mentorship resources.

Currently, only 54% of trainees in remote internships report receiving sufficient guidance.

Molina and Legrand called for clear guidelines on mentor-to-trainee ratios and EU funding for managerial training programs to ensure effective oversight and professional development. “Traineeships should serve as pipelines for long-term talent development rather than temporary solutions for labour shortages”, they stated and urged policymakers to address structural labour market issues, including job attractiveness, fair pay, and sustainable working conditions.

As the rapporteur for the Quality Traineeships directive, MEP Alicia Homs outlined key priorities to enhance traineeship conditions across Europe, including fair compensation, equal rights and protections, preventing exploitative practices, expanding traineeship opportunities beyond young people to include career changers, and ensuring clear learning objectives, mentorship, and recognition of traineeships as valuable professional experiences.

Future steps may include pilot projects, further consultations, and sharing additional case studies to inform legislative decisions.

Social partners like CEC European Managers will ensure that European traineeships are fair, well-compensated, and effective in preparing individuals for long-term career success.

You can find more information on the Quality of Traineeships directive here [+]