AOC and other top lawmakers want to revolutionize government oversight of unpaid internships

  • Date: 28-Sep-2021
  • Source: Business Insider
  • Sector:Economy
  • Country:Egypt
  • Who else needs to know?

AOC and other top lawmakers want to revolutionize government oversight of unpaid internships

Nearly 40 lawmakers are calling on the Department of Labor to track unpaid internships and help crack down on internship violations. Congressional leaders from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to Rep. Ayanna Pressley signed on to a organized by Rep. Tony Cárdenas of California and activist group Pay Our Interns. The letter calls on the DOL to enact more reporting requirements around unpaid internships and track them, as well as collect data on intern pay. It's a push to both create greater equity by curbing unpaid positions, and to understand the role that unpaid (and paid) internships play in the economy. The lawmakers are also calling on the agency to look into ways to more extensively monitor potential unpaid internship violations, and create an awareness campaign on intern rights. The gist of the letter, according to Carlos Mark Vera, the executive director of (POI), is "it's time for them to take a more hands-on role when it comes to the internship economy." Unpaid internships have emerged as one flashpoint during broader discussions of inequality throughout the past year. Often seen as a way to get into the door of professional opportunities, unpaid internships can favor those who are able to work without