IN the name of internships, the corporate sector as well as parts of the academia actually exploit fresh graduates. Many of them work fulltime for months without any remuneration worth its name. This is extreme and ruthless exploitation of fresh graduates, and this must change.

After dedicating four to five years earning their degrees, young professionals are routinely relegated to unpaid internships or meagre dailywage roles without any benefits. The exploiters neither recognise their skills nor respect their labour. In corporate offices, graduates are hired as interns for, say, six months. They are expected to work full days on meaningful projects, drafting reports, managing client correspondence, and even attending meetings. Yet, they receive no stipend or formal acknowledgement for their contributions. This façade of ‘experience’ offers little beyond a certificate, while the actual cost — transport and meals, to say the least — falls squarely on the interns.

Similarly, private schools, colleges and even universities engage graduates on a dailywage or per-hour basis against seriously meagre remunerations, entrusting them with marking examinations for classes of 50 students, updating attendance portals, and covering for absent faculty. Despite performing duties beyond their remit, they receive no overtime pay, no leave entitlement, and no encouragement to innovate in the classroom. Such conditions breed stress, frustration, and, ultimately, disillusionment.

If we are to retain our brightest minds and honour their commitment to Pakistan, the government must outlaw unpaid internships, enforce a meaningful stipend for all interns in all fields, establish fair minimum wages for parttime of contractual teaching staff, and guarantee basic labour rights, including paid leave, overtime compensation and proper grievance procedures. By valuing what our young professionals do today, we will be investing in a stronger, more prosperous tomorrow.

Afaq Zafar Bukhari
Peshawar

Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2025