Poe wants paid student internship programs in gov’t offices

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Grace Poe on Friday said she will push for a bill that will offer paid internship programs for students in government offices.

“Isa sa batas na gusto kong itulak ang pagkakaroon ng internship programs sa lahat ng government offices,” Poe said in a speech during Go Negosyo’s Youth Entrepreneurship Summit in Pasay City.

(I want to introduce a bill on paid internship programs for students in government offices.)

The senator said the paid internship program would help address unemployment rate of the youth.

Poe said that according to the Department of Labor and Employment, 75.2 percent or 1.73 million unemployed Filipinos in the country are in the 15 – 34 age bracket.

“Doon sa batas na itutulak natin, kung mabibigyan tayo muli ng pagkakataon, lahat ng mga government offices ay dapat mag-hire ng interns at bigyan sila ng minimum wage,” Poe said.

(In the bill that I will file, all government offices must hire student interns who will receive minimum wage.)

Poe also raised concerns that some students are even paying for their internship in private companies.

“Bakit ikaw magbabayad e tumutulong ka na nga sa kanila [kumpanya] as an intern?” Poe said.

(Why should an intern pay when he or she helps out the company.) / gsg