The European Commission’s proposed Traineeships Directive aims to improve and better enforce working conditions of trainees and to combat employment relationships disguised as traineeships.

The Directive lays down a common framework of principles and measures to improve and enforce the working conditions of trainees, in addition to measures to combat regular employment relationships being disguised as traineeships, including requirements for effective inspections and enforcement of EU law applicable to trainees.

The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has opened a consultation which will run until Friday 30 August 2024.

Enterprise, trade and employment minister Peter Burke said: “This directive has the potential to ensure that trainees are fully provided with the employment rights to which they are entitled and to enable competent authorities to detect and address cases of regular employment being disguised as traineeships.

“Treating trainees fairly and providing them with their applicable employment rights will enable Irish employers to continue to attract and train the best available talent for their organisations, whilst promoting fairness and safeguarding trainees’ rights.”