Why Interns Deserve to Be Paid

Internship in Bangladesh has now become an important step in almost every student's career. There is no alternative to internships to get out of the university classroom and learn real work but a question that comes up again and again is whether internships are just a place to learn or is it important to get fair remuneration for the work.

Internship in my case is often shown as an opportunity to gain experience but in reality in many places it is gradually becoming like free labor or unpaid work because when an intern works in an organization. Then he is not only learning but he is also contributing to the work of the organization and in my opinion his time, effort and skill should be valued.

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I am not just saying this as a theory but also an experience of my own life. In 2017, I myself did an internship for 6 months in a developer company. Yes, there I learned a lot of practical work and gained practical experience but it also had a tough side. I had to pay the institute to do that internship. The amount was not much but it was too big for me. Because I was unemployed then.

My father had to bear the intern fee along with my housing, food, travel expenses. Now when I look back, I think it was really right? We not only went there to learn but also worked for the organization and contributed to their projects. Then why we were not paid any remuneration but on the contrary we had to pay money.

To me it seems very unfair. Because if an intern works, performs duties and creates value for the organization then he deserves at least a respectable stipend. The idea of ​​paying for learning often leads to exploitation especially when that learning involves real work.

Not all organizations are the same. Small organizations or startups may not be able to pay huge initial fees. But at least respect for interns should ensure proper learning environment and evaluation of their work. Internships should never be a means of exploitation. It should be an opportunity to learn, grow and prove your skills. And if this opportunity is accompanied by fair remuneration then it will be a big positive step not only for the students but also for the development of human resources of the entire country.