Spanish universities regret that the management of registering students on unpaid internships with Social Security has finally fallen on their centers even though the obligation falls on the company. They also denounce that not even some ministries of the same Government that approved the regulations, including Social Security, have wanted to take on the procedures. Finally, they highlight the comparative grievance with Vocational Training (FP) whose management of practices has been assumed by the autonomies.
Since January 1, 2024, students on unpaid internships, both university and Vocational Training, must contribute in recognition of their work and so that it is reflected in their work life in the face of retirement. But the application of this measure is being hindered by technical aspects.
The Government established a 3-month moratorium (it was scheduled to come into force in September 2023) so that entities could adapt to the regulations and a 95% discount has been granted to avoid expenses. The Ministry of Education assumes the remaining 5% in this first year in the case of FP, not university. And the discharge management period has been extended from 10 days to 3 months.
The management of vocational training students has been assumed by the autonomous communities (in Catalonia only the public institutes, not the subsidized ones) but the management of the university students has been assumed by the academic centers themselves so that the students do not lose mandatory internships in their study plans and necessary to obtain the degree.
The Conference of Rectors of Spanish Universities (CRUE) recalls that provision 52 of Royal Decree-Law 2/2023, of March 16, mainly attributes the responsibility of managing and paying these contributions to the entities receiving intern students. . But “both companies and public administrations have ignored this obligation and it has been the universities that have had to assume these tasks,” they add in a statement published this morning.
In the case of companies, they estimate that more than 98% have evaded the payment of contributions (which is 100% subsidized so the amount will be returned) and 100% their administrative management.
“It is especially surprising – the note continues – that it has been the ministries dependent on the Government that has generated this regulation and many autonomous organizations that have evaded their responsibility in the administrative management and payment of these contributions.”
Specifically, they point out the ministries with powers in Defense, Justice or even Inclusion, Social Security and Migration.
These “have written to the universities to request a change in the regulatory agreements so that the university institutions are the ones who assume all the management and payment within the new system.” In the case of the autonomous communities, they indicate that only some have assumed the cost, but in no case the management.
They admit that numerous meetings have been held with the provincial and national heads of the Social Security Treasury to define a technical procedure “as clear and precise as possible” to be able to carry it out.
“It should be noted that the enormous size and heterogeneity of the student group raises numerous doubts when carrying out the registration and cancellation processes,” the note states, so some doubts remain to be resolved.
They give an example of how to act with students in mobility processes or with MUFACE coverage.
The universities feel “aggrieved” in comparative terms, knowing “how the Government has assumed the management and cost of the internships corresponding to FP, without giving the same treatment to the university students, which establishes an obvious principle of discrimination” ,
They also express their surprise “at seeing the high degree of improvisation and confusion with which this measure is being implemented.” Throughout this process, “universities have not been consulted or informed through the normal channels of a loyal relationship between institutions,” the letter adds.
Likewise, it asks that they disseminate inaccurate information that confuses the intern student with the intern, the curricular practices with the extracurricular ones.
The universities, “despite their many financial difficulties”, have assumed the cost of these contributions, which are equivalent to about 9 million euros (including the 95% bonus). And they have made an “enormous effort” in administrative management since 400,000 practices have to be registered. This means, they report, increasing the workforce of technical, management, administration and service personnel, acquiring digital platforms and training staff.
