Internships are typically undertaken by students seeking experience in specific work fields. However, some companies offer no compensation to their interns.
Fresh graduates have decided to spread it online, mainly on Twitter to share their internship experiences and allowance.
Interns or free labour?
In split seconds, many graduates have gathered to share their stories online. Along with that, one university student, decided to start a parade around her campus where she will be walking with a placard where “Interns are not free labor” will be written.
Starting my internship next semester, so I’ll be walking around with this to express my worry.
— rashifa (@youngaljunied) June 14, 2023
The gov increased min wage of RM1.5k, but this policy didn’t include interns.
Interns are unprotected by the employment act in Malaysia, hence the risk of exploitation by companies. pic.twitter.com/gxr6qmkZyq
One of them, have gained many people’s attention after she decided to go public about underpaid and unpaid internships.
Students from various fields and backgrounds who had experienced underpaid and unpaid internships have also left a glimpse of their stories under the post.
Teacher with no salary
A student was given a teaching internship in Kuching in 2020, for which they received no pay
Moreover, there was another practicum teacher who was working in a secondary school in 2012 mentioned that she was not given any wages but was spending money for other expenses.
“The amount of money spent to buy teaching equipment, marker pens and photocopy exercises/worksheets, and also transport,” she stated.
Despite being paid nothing, many graduates still appreciated the experience they accumulated during the internship.
One netizen, being interned as a library assistant in 2009, mentioned that they gained the most valuable and treasures, even with no allowances.
“We learnt about book classification and got to look at rare book collections in Malaysia, old books with a value that could buy a bungalow, banned books, and how to save books.”
Many interns have not been paid for their work. Some argue that this is fair, asserting that they need the internship more than the company needs them.
However, many interns are fortunate to work for companies that offer good pay. Some note long working hours, while others even have housing provided by the company.
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