Internship Agreement and Senior Internships for 50+, 60+ and Older: Bill Proposes Up to PLN 9,400 Pay

The Polish government has proposed a new internship bill introducing paid placements up to PLN 9,400, eliminating unpaid graduate practices, and sparking debate among experts and ministries.

Introduction to the New Internship Bill

The government plenipotentiary for senior policy proposes a completely new solution: a senior internship with a separate internship agreement, including for people over 50, 60, and even older. The new regulations aim to facilitate senior skill acquisition in new professions and support professional activity. The senior internship is entirely different from the senior voucher.

The draft internship bill aims to regulate the organization principles of internships offered on the open labor market to ensure high quality in line with EU recommendations. The bill ensures an appropriate educational component, professional preparation, protection of intern rights, the elimination of unpaid internships, and the minimization of the risk of replacing employment relationships with internships.

The proposed legislation will repeal the Act of July 17, 2009, on graduate apprenticeships, replacing them with internships implemented under the new project and abolishing unpaid graduate practices.

Senior Internships for Persons Over 50 and 60

Government Plenipotentiary for Senior Policy Marzena Okła-Drewnowicz wants senior internship regulations in Polish law to facilitate acquiring new qualifications and support return or continued presence in the labor market.

Although internships are traditionally aimed at the young, the plenipotentiary notes it is reasonable to create separate regulations governing senior internship agreements that take into account the specificity of older people. Two teams have been appointed to support senior policy in local governments and develop new regulations.

Remuneration, Terms, and Conditions

Under the bill, internships will be conducted based on a written civil law internship agreement, meaning the intern will not be an employee. The senior internship is entirely different from the senior voucher, which provides specific assistance services rather than cash.

One of the key solutions is the mandatory payment of a monetary benefit to the intern, reaching up to the average remuneration of approximately PLN 9,400. Working hours are planned between 4 and 8 hours a day and an average of 40 hours weekly, with paid time off and strict organizer obligations including health and safety conditions.

Expert and Ministerial Criticism

Experts and various ministries have raised objections during consultations, primarily regarding the alignment of the internship agreement with an employment contract. The Ministry of Infrastructure and the Head of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister point out that treating the organizer like an employer and the intern like an employee blurs the boundary between internships and classic employment.

The draft legislation also contains penal provisions, stipulating fines ranging from PLN 1,000 to PLN 30,000 for organizers who violate regulations concerning working time, documentation, monetary benefit payments, or granting days off.

Implementation and Transitional Provisions

The internship act is expected to enter into force after 6 months from the date of announcement, featuring a transitional provision allowing the completion of internships started before the act’s entry into force for a period not exceeding 6 months.