Stagediscriminatie.

What is internship discrimination?

There is internship discrimination if your child is not accepted for an internship because of cultural background, gender or age. For example, your daughter hears that the internship company does not accept women with a headscarf, or your homosexual son hears during a talk that there is no place for gays. Internship discrimination has a big emotional impact on students and this is not allowed.

What does the law say?

According to the general law on equal treatment, it is forbidden to exclude people based on cultural background, gender or age. Providing proof is often difficult, because in many cases it is hard to find out where and who gave the rejection.

What can you do?

If your child faces internship discrimination it is important to follow some steps.

• Try to collect proof if possible.
• It is important that your child reports it to the mbo school. This can be to a practical trainer or internship supervisor. If your child does not want to do this, the confidential advisor is an option.
• Have your child report it on the website discriminatie.nl. Through this report your child contacts an anti discrimination office near you. There your child can get personal advice. The office can try to mediate with the person or organization who discriminated.
• Your child can also report it to the police. The anti discrimination office can help with this.
• Have your child report it to the college for human rights. The anti discrimination office can also help here.
• Make a report at the school. Every mbo school must have its own reporting point for internship discrimination.

Manifest internship discrimination

In the summer of 2022, universities of applied sciences, universities, the ministries of education, culture and science and social affairs and employment, student organizations and employers signed a manifest to do something about internship discrimination. The goal is that every student has equal chances to get an internship. And that society grows more aware of this. In practice, training sessions are used for students, teaching staff and employers.