Stage discrimination.

What is internship discrimination?

Internship discrimination happens if your child is not accepted for an internship because of cultural background, gender, or age. For example, your daughter may be told the internship company does not accept women with headscarves. Or your gay son may hear during an interview that there is no place for gays. Internship discrimination has a strong emotional effect on students and it is not allowed.

What does the law say?

The general law on equal treatment says it is forbidden to exclude people based on cultural background, gender, or age. It is often hard to prove because it is difficult to find out where and from whom the rejection comes.

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. Think about the practical trainer or internship supervisor. If your child does not want to talk to them, the confidential advisor is an option.
• Have your child make a report on the website discriminatie.nl. This will connect your child with an anti-discrimination agency nearby. Your child can get personal advice. The agency can help to talk with the person or organisation that discriminated.
• Your child can file a complaint with the police. The anti-discrimination agency can help with this.
• Have your child report to the college for human rights. The anti-discrimination agency can help here too.
• Make a report at the school. Every mbo school must have a special reporting point for internship discrimination.

Manifest internship discrimination

Colleges, universities, the ministries of OCW and SZW, student organisations and employers signed a manifest in summer 2022 to act against internship discrimination. The goal is that every student must have equal chances for an internship. And that society becomes more aware of this. In practice, training is given to students, teachers, and employers.