29.09.2023
Internships are essential experiences to help students explore potential careers, learn new skills, and gain practical experience. However, unpaid and poorly-paid internships can exclude talented young people from disadvantaged backgrounds who cannot afford to work for free. This essay will examine whether young interns in the Western Balkans six (WB6) countries are fairly paid.
WB6 countries comprise six countries in the Western Balkans region, including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. Although internships in the region have become a popular way of entering the workforce, many young people are exploited and are not paid according to labor laws.
Firstly, the young interns in the region do not earn enough to support themselves. In most cases, interns are given a stipend or allowance, which is not enough to cover their basic needs, such as accommodation, transportation, and food. As a result, many interns have to rely on other sources of support, such as their families or part-time jobs. This is particularly challenging for students who have to juggle internships, studies, and work.
Secondly, unpaid internships are also common in many companies in the region. According to the law, all internships should be paid, but many companies take advantage of the high unemployment rate and young people's lack of experience to offer unpaid internships. This limits opportunities for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, who cannot afford to work for free.
However, some companies in the region offer fair internships with opportunities for growth, professional development, and pay. Aware of the challenges that young people face in the region, some companies have opted to create attractive internship programs to help young people gain experience in their respective fields. Such programs offer competitive salaries and provide opportunities for mentorship, training, or career advancement to ensure that interns gain valuable skills and knowledge.
In conclusion, interns in the Western Balkans six countries are not always paid fairly, which affects their ability to gain valuable experiences and improve their employability. The WB6 governments should enforce labor laws that protect young interns from exploitation, encourage fair remuneration, and provide incentives to companies that offer fair internships. Companies should also recognize the value of young talents and remunerate them fairly to show their commitment to the growth of the region.
In summary, interns in the WB6 countries deserve fair pay for their internships to ensure that they have equal access to these valuable opportunities regardless of their socioeconomic background.
Arlis Alikaj is a journalist, freelance writer, and activist who has been writing professionally since 2008. Arlis has also written numerous articles on some of Albania's most difficult social problems for some of the nation's most prominent news sources and has been seen on some of the biggest Albanian television networks, including Agon Channel, Top Channel, Vizion Plus and Klan.
Additionally, Arlis is a passionate community activist, with experience organizing projects on environmental, youth, and gender issues. This passion to make positive change drives him in all areas of his work, inspires him to write on the most pressing and under-reported issues in Albanian society.