What's the 411 on student internship?

[Aranda_Bay]

I've been away from college for such a long time and I never took part in a student internship for the reason that I was partly employed already while still in college.

The thing is my niece is part of a student internship as a PA in a popular radio station. The thing is, like the rest of the other interns, she's not being paid even an allowance and will only be hired when she graduates from college (in 2 more years). So that means, no salary, no allowance, no TF, no insurance, no SSS, nothing.

Are there government guidelines for internships like these?

[faux_ph]

^^I'm also curious cos it seems that there's no defined guidance on how to deal with interns. AFAIK, if there's an employer-employee relationship you are to be compensated regardless of your position in the hierarchy of organisation (Intern being at the bottom). It seems that most (if not all!) companies in the Philippines are taking advantage of interns utilising them as part of the regular work force without compensation whatsoever even for just their transpo or meals justifying that they are helping these interns in their academic requirements. Internship supposed to be the bridge between academic institution and the industry so as the industry and academe can learn from each other and narrow the gap between what is taught academic institutions and what is practiced in the industry.

[Aranda_Bay]

The company that I worked for before had a sister company na school. We'd have practicumers (pinoy for interns) coming and going. As far as I know, our company didn't pay them salaries pero may transpo and food allowance sila. And they usually work no longer than 6 months at a time.

In my niece's situation, her batch of interns are not actually practicumers (not sanctioned by the school) but according to my niece's explanation, it was like a "reality show" type of search. Like The Apprentice. Yun nga lang walang black and white and there's not even a certainty if they will be hired upon graduation. I guess my niece just likes the environment because she gets to work with the DJs, their celeb visitors (oops!) and gets some airtime from time to time.

[faux_ph]

^^This is where I find to the detriment of the intern/OJT's/Practicumers. These intern/OJT's/Practicumers work as part of the production of the company and as such, they are part of the overhead cost of production. These overhead costs are to be integrated to the products/services these companies are selling which these companies get their profits. So why they (intern/OJT's/Practicumers) are not compensated? Does DOLE have any jurisdiction on issues like these or CHED takes over? Any inputs from HR people?