Student and youth union organisations are launching a campaign on Thursday in favour of compulsory payments for people on work experience programmes.

Last week, education minister Eppo Bruins said that he was not planning to require employers to provide financial compensation to trainees, although many already do so.

One nursing student told broadcaster NOS that she needed a part-time job to help pay for necessities alongside her traineeship and coursework. She receives €175 per month as a trainee and still lives at home.

The student organisations are calling for a minimum payment of €500 a month.

“We are not free labour,” Kayleigh el Chab from student union Job MBO said. “Every student should be valued for the hard work they provide. However you look at it, they often work 32 or 40 hours a week for peanuts and need to hold down a job at the same time.”

In 2024, just 42% of trade school students had a paid internship. Payments are regulated in 17% of pay and conditions agreements.