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REPORT (COM(2024)0132 – C100004/2024 – 2024/0068(COD))

On the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council improving and enforcing working conditions of trainees and combating regular employment relationships disguised as traineeships (‘Traineeships Directive’)

A-10-2025-0174

Committee on Employment and Social Affairs · Rapporteur: Alicia Homs Ginel

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Parliament's amended version of the Commission's proposed 'Traineeships Directive' lays down a common definition of traineeships and rules on their quality, accessibility and enforcement. It requires a written traineeship agreement, pay under national law or collective agreements, access to social protection, and equal treatment with other workers in the same establishment. It requires Member States to detect and combat practices that circumvent the purpose of traineeships and the use of standard employment relationships disguised as traineeships, through inspections, assessments and data collection. It sets rules on dispute resolution, protection from adverse treatment, burden of proof, penalties, and transposition 18 months after entry into force.

Committee position. The Committee on Employment and Social Affairs proposes amendments to the Commission proposal, including a common definition of traineeships, a written agreement requirement, non-discrimination rules, measures to detect and combat disguised employment relationships, and enforcement and data collection provisions.

Key points

  1. The Directive lays down a common definition of traineeships and a framework to improve and enforce trainees' working conditions, promote quality, transparent and accessible traineeships, and combat disguised employment relationships.
  2. It excludes traineeships that are integral and mandatory parts of formal higher education or vocational education and training curricula undertaken solely for academic or professional credits, and apprenticeships.
  3. A traineeship is defined as a limited period of entry-level work providing practical and professional experience and skills through a significant learning and training component, to facilitate transition to standard employment or access a profession.
  4. Member States must ensure trainees receive a written agreement before the traineeship starts, covering duration, pay, learning objectives, rights and obligations, confidentiality and intellectual property, and mentorship and evaluation arrangements.
  5. Traineeship providers must train staff with supervisory functions and give trainees access to social protection under national schemes.
  6. Trainees must not be treated less favourably than other workers in the same establishment on working conditions including pay, and traineeships must comply with non-discrimination rules on access and working conditions.
  7. Member States must take measures to increase access for persons in vulnerable situations and ensure trainees with disabilities are not prevented from participating, including through accessibility, reasonable accommodation and tailored support.
  8. Trainees must benefit from the same health and safety protection as other workers, with additional safeguards such as tailored information, supervision and training.
  9. Traineeship providers must inform trainees of vacancies to give them the same access to permanent positions as other workers.
  10. Member States must provide effective controls and inspections, encourage workers' representatives to designate a contact person for trainees, and assess practices that circumvent the purpose of traineeships or disguise standard employment relationships.
  11. Member States must define traineeships as between one and six months, require vacancy notices to include tasks, working conditions, pay, social protection, learning elements and recruitment possibilities, and ensure trainees can report malpractice and access dispute resolution and redress.
  12. Member States must protect trainees from adverse treatment, prohibit dismissal or equivalent measures for exercising rights, and ensure the burden of proof falls on traineeship providers; penalties must be effective, proportionate and dissuasive.

Who is affected

  • Trainees: gain rights to a written agreement, pay, social protection, equal treatment, health and safety protection, and redress.
  • Traineeship providers: must provide written agreements, training for supervisors, social protection, vacancy information, and comply with inspections.
  • Member States: must transpose the Directive, ensure inspections, data collection, support for trainees, and penalties.
  • Workers' representatives: encouraged to designate a contact person for trainees and may engage in proceedings on their behalf.
  • Persons with disabilities and those in vulnerable situations: targeted measures to improve access to traineeships.

Figures and deadlines

  • Traineeships should be between one and six months' duration, except where a longer duration is justified on objective grounds.
  • Member States must comply with the Directive by 18 months after entry into force.
  • Member States must submit data to the Commission two years after the date of transposition and every two years thereafter.
  • The Commission must submit a report to the European Parliament and Council three years after the date of transposition and every two years thereafter.

Legal basis: Article 294(2) and Article 153(2)(b) in conjunction with Article 153(1)(b) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.