'Interns not free labour' - student dons signboard to fight exploitation

Public university student Rashifa Aljunied has spent the last three days walking around campus with a sandwich board that reads “interns are not free labour”.

The 24-year-old is hoping her protest would draw attention to the plight of students undergoing their industrial attachments and convince the government to put an end to the exploitation.

“I want to fight for this issue because I believe interns should be paid and protected in Malaysia.

“I also want to raise awareness among students that it is unfair if they are not paid,” she told Malaysiakini.

The international and strategic studies major made her opinion heard after seeing industrial training positions offering a small allowance, while some are not compensated at all.

Rashifa, who will be undergoing industrial training in her October semester, was worried about how she is going to survive during that period.

“Many interns face financial challenges because they have to bear the cost of transportation, food, and accommodation while undergoing industrial training.

“My accommodation alone is already RM300 and if the allowance is also RM300, how am I to pay for transportation and daily necessities?” she asked.

She also heard of unpleasant experiences from her peers who had undergone industrial training in medicine and teaching.

“I understand that the exposure and experience are important but they work up to 12 hours a day so it makes no sense if they are not paid at all.

“Some need to buy things using their own money for learning and teaching purposes while being practical teachers,” she added.

‘Govt should intervene’

With the rising cost of living, Rashifa said it is a must for interns to be paid and urged the government to issue clear guidelines on the position of interns.

“The government needs to provide a clear policy in providing the minimum amount of allowance so that companies can refer to this guideline.

“I strongly believe that the government should intervene in this matter,” she stressed.

Apart from the financial issue, Rashifa also noted that interns lacked legal protection under the Employment Act.

“Interns have the right to a safe and fair working environment and also appropriate working hours by setting a legal framework to protect them so that we can prevent them from being exploited by companies,” she said.

On June 7, Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman urged the government to introduce a new law to make it mandatory for public and private sector employers to pay interns and those undergoing industrial training.

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