Improving and enforcing working conditions of trainees and combating regular employment relationships disguised as traineeships (‘Traineeships Directive’)

This procedure concerns improving working conditions of trainees and combating regular employment relationships disguised as traineeships, the 'Traineeships Directive'. It runs under the ordinary legislative procedure, so Parliament and the Council decide together and the result is binding EU law. It was handled by the Employment and Social Affairs and Culture and Education committees, in the field of vocational education and training and youth. The tabled amendments reference the 2014 Council Recommendation on a Quality Framework for Traineeships, distinguish traineeship contracts from disguised employment, require trainees to have a written and paid contract, and provide that trainees not be treated less favourably than comparable regular employees on pay, leave and social protection. Others cover recognition of learning outcomes via certificates, Europass or micro-credentials.