Akbayan Party-list is pushing for the passage of the Interns’ Rights and Welfare Bill, a measure designed to recognize and protect the rights of students undergoing internship programs.
In a post on X on Saturday, October 4, Akbayan Party-list Representative Chel Diokno said the bill seeks to institutionalize clear standards that put students’ welfare at the center of internship arrangements.
“Sa panukalang ito, para sa mga college at university students na may internship dapat may kontrata. May malinaw na internship plan para siguradong kapakanan ng mga estudyante ang inuuna,” Diokno explained.
He added that the proposed measure would ensure interns’ rights to proper working hours, leave benefits, insurance coverage, protection from discrimination, and—most importantly—fair pay.
Under the bill, student interns will receive 75% of the Salary Grade 1, Step 1 pay if placed in government agencies, while those in the private sector will be entitled to 75% of the prevailing minimum wage.
Diokno emphasized that internships should not exploit students’ labor but instead help them gain valuable work experience under conditions that safeguard their rights and dignity.