National Minimum Wage (Payment of Interns) Bill 2022

Public bill · Private Member · Introduced

The proposal would make sure that people doing substantial internship or work-experience placements get the national minimum wage, even if they are not formally called employees. It sets a threshold of more than 30 hours of work in any four-week period, while excluding unpaid volunteer work, work for close family, apprenticeships, and some formal education-and-training placements. It would also bring these workers within the scope of the minimum wage rules so that employers could not avoid paying by labelling someone an intern. The point is to stop low-paid or unpaid “internships” from being used as a way to get free labour, while still allowing genuine unpaid volunteering and structured training.

Formal long title

Bill entitled an Act to provide for the payment of the national minimum wage to certain persons doing work as interns or on work experience; for that purpose to amend the National Minimum Wage Act 2000; and to provide for related matters.

Last updated 30 January 2025