Internships at State Institutions to Be Qualified as Work Experience

The Parliament of Georgia is discussing amendments to the Labor Code and the Law on Public Service, according to which internships at state institutions will be qualified as work experience.

The amendments were proposed by the ruling party Georgian Dream (GD) and the draft law aims to define the status of an intern on the labor market as an equal participant in labor relations, ensuring in this way that the rights of interns are protected by legislative mechanisms.

The changes also read that the Labor Code shall define the rights of interns or trainees, and the period of internship shall be qualified as work experience. The regulations on issuing internship certificates will also be introduced.

The amendments will also define the general concept of internship and related regulations, such as the period and procedures of internship to be determined by specific public institutions.

Under the current Labor Code and the Law on Public Service, the general concept of internship is not defined; however, after the amendments are adopted, such a concept of internship will be introduced.

“An employed intern is a person who works for an employer under a labor agreement signed in accordance with this Code, for the purpose of raising qualifications, gaining experience and/or professional development,” the draft reads.

It also says that an internship certificate shall be issued in accordance with information contained in the Human Resources Management System of the Public Service.

The current law also says nothing about the internship procedure and remuneration, but it is clearly defined in the amendments that internship shall have a specific duration, which, together with the procedure, shall be determined by the state agency or institution running the internship. The changes state that internship can also be paid.

“A labor contract must be signed with a paid or unpaid intern for no more than six months. Following the expiration of this term, the employer can conclude a new contract of the same term limit,” the changes read, adding the term of internship in public service should not exceed one year.

“After the expiration of this term, the person may compete for an internship in the same or other institution,” the draft law says.

By Thea Morrison

Image source: fc2success.org