The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) has launched a campaign to ban unpaid internships.

In a news release PSAC calls on federal, provincial and territorial governments to ban unpaid internships across the country which it describes as “exploitative.”

The union goes on to say that unpaid internships undermine fair labour practices, perpetuate inequality, and create barriers for young workers to join Canada’s workforce.

PSAC explains that while the Canada Labour Code was amended in 2015 and came into effect in 2020 to ban unpaid internships, gaps in the legislation allow employers to continue taking advantage of young professionals and students without providing compensation under the guise of gaining “experience”.

The union points out that students in unpaid internships are often forced to work multiple jobs to make ends meet.

National President Sharon DeSousa says, “No one should ever be forced to work without pay.”