gull “Without trainee nurses, physiotherapists or doctors, hospitals would no longer function“
Essential interns
Many testimonies received by the FEF also mention internships where the student finds himself replacing a worker. For example, a teaching student would have had to give lessons in place of her supervisor, who was on sick leave. The same goes for nursing or medical students, who ensure that shift schedules in hospitals are created by counting on interns. “Without trainee nurses, physiotherapists or doctors, hospitals would no longer function“, says Adam Assaoui.
For all these reasons, the FEF has submitted a proposal to the federal government. She mentions in particular a reduction in the costs generated by an internship for students, whether these are travel costs, equipment costs, or even accommodation costs. The text asks to impose their reimbursement on host organizations.
Medical interns cut off from their remuneration for their guards: “There is no longer any respect, no more recognition”
Pay for long-term internships
But that’s not all. For long-term internships (i.e. more than 6 weeks), the text provides for compulsory remuneration for the student, up to 50% of the minimum salary, or €1,094 gross for full time. “The idea is that there be at least 800 euros in the student’s pocket“, summarizes Adam Assaoui. Currently, no compulsory remuneration or reimbursement of expenses is imposed, with the exception of voluntary initiatives by host organizations or special cases.
“Only two types of internships are institutionally paid in Belgium“, recalls the president of the FEF. The first concerns European institutions, which offer paid internships and the second concerns the Royal Military School, where students are paid to study. “For a long time, it has been said that if the state really wanted to reduce the shortage of essential professions such as teaching or nursing, it would just have to take the model in place for military students and extend it to students in these sectors“, pleads Adam Assaoui.
Let’s offer a daily meal to nursing interns
Belgium, a bad student?
In the European Union, it is estimated that 55% of interns are paid or compensated. According to the FEF, Belgium would be one of the bad students. According to Adam Assaoui, there are three types of countries when it comes to remuneration for long-term internships. Countries without legal obligation but where companies pay or defray (Germany, Netherlands), countries where the intern is considered a worker and benefits from at least the minimum wage (Ireland, United Kingdom) and countries where the intern receives remuneration specific legal (France, Italy, Finland). Something, perhaps, to inspire Belgium.
