The Fair Work Ombudsman has announced a new initiative aimed at cracking down on exploitative internship practices.

Ombudsman Nicholas Wilson said his office would seek to educate employers and employees about the legitimacy of schemes for unpaid work experience.

The announcement comes after the release of a major report, commissioned by the Fair Work Ombudsman, into unpaid work experience arrangements in Australia, including internships, work experience and unpaid trial periods.

The Experience or Exploitation? The Nature, Prevalence and Regulation of Unpaid Work Experience, Internships and Trial Periods report, by University of Adelaide Law School Professors, Andrew Stewart and Rosemary Owens, found a growing number of businesses using unpaid work schemes as an alternative to hiring paid staff.

The report concluded that young people and migrant workers are the most vulnerable to being exploited through these schemes.

“I commissioned this report because of my concern about the growing prevalence of unpaid work experience in Australia,” Mr Wilson said.

“It provides a solid basis for me as the Fair Work Ombudsman, as well as other key stakeholders such as employers, industry bodies, unions and other government agencies to develop strategies which serve to protect the rights of people undertaking unpaid work.”

Mr Wilson said the report showed that Australia is by no means alone in tackling the issue.

“Internships and similar unpaid work schemes have been a concern to international forums such as the International Labour Organisation, which recently said they could become a ‘disguised form of employment’ without the real benefits they promise, such as real on the job training,” Mr Wilson said.

Mr Wilson said the report made six valuable recommendations which he would work to implement.  They encourage the Fair Work Ombudsman to:

  • Better define unpaid work experience
  • Expand guidance and education activities
  • Conduct targeted campaigns in key industries identified in the report
  • Instigate legal action before relevant courts where appropriate
  • Improve liaison with relevant government agencies, and;
  • Initiate comprehensive engagement with key stakeholders representing employers and employees, vulnerable workers (including young people and migrant workers,) and educational institutions.

 

 

 

The full report can be found here