If you hire an intern, you must, of course, act like a professional internship company. Therefore, do not view an intern simply as a cheap employee, but as someone coming to you to develop specific skills and acquire practical knowledge. Good follow-up and support are therefore crucial, as is work that aligns with their education. In addition, you also need to arrange a few things.
Always review the applicable collective labor agreement
In principle, you have a great deal of freedom regarding interns. For example, you are not required to pay the minimum wage or withhold payroll taxes. In principle, you are not even obliged to pay an internship allowance. However, a collective labour agreement applicable to your company may stipulate otherwise. In any case, an internship allowance is beneficial because the intern is then automatically insured under the Sickness Benefits Act and the Wajong (Youth Disability Act).
Drafting an internship contract
First of all, you must, of course, draw up an internship agreement . In the internship contract , you include not only the intern's personal details but also information regarding your company and the educational institution. Additionally, you include the duration of the internship contract, a liability clause, the learning objectives, the level of supervision, and the options for terminating the contract. Finally, you may also grant an internship allowance. You include such an allowance in the internship contract as well.
Most companies handle this well. However, you also need to consider a number of other matters. For example, is the intern allowed to use a company laptop? If so, you must provide clarity on how to handle it and what is or is not permitted. The same applies, for instance, to a company bicycle or smartphone.
Arrange liability insurance
You cannot simply waive all liability in the internship contract. Moreover, you are liable for any damage caused or sustained by the intern in the course of executing the internship contract. If the intern makes a mistake that causes problems for a client, the client can hold your company liable. Therefore, always check whether your liability insurance is sufficient or take out liability insurance. Your insurer can provide you with information on this.
Check if you are entitled to subsidies
If you offer an internship, you may be eligible for the Practical Learning subsidy scheme. This involves reimbursement for supervision. The conditions depend, among other things, on the educational category. For MBO-BBL interns, for example, this is not possible for BOL (vocational training pathway), EVC tracks, or specific customized tracks. Additionally, the educational institution must offer at least 200 supervised teaching hours. In any case, the subsidy remains attractive, so always check whether or not you meet the conditions.
Contact MKB Juristen
The internship contract is the most important document when hiring an intern, although you also need to arrange a number of other matters. It is important not to simply use a ready-made internship contract, but to ensure that the contract is fully tailored to the unique situation. Therefore, discuss this with one of the experienced legal experts at MKB Juristen. We are happy to explain the details, guide you through the process, and immediately draft the necessary documents for you. Schedule a free intake consultation .
