Holiday work experience trainees

General information

'Real' holiday work experience trainees are school or university students who undergo practical work which is required or customary as part of the curriculum or conditions of study, without receiving payment or benefits in kind. While working, they are insured in case of accidents under the statutory accident insurance for school/university students, without any contribution from the employer and without registering for social security. A holiday work placement is not just for holidays; it can be completed at any time of year. The following criteria are typical of a placement for a holiday work experience trainee:

• It must be evident that school/university students studying a certain subject are employed in the company within this same field.
• The practical work at the company shall correspond to the education and training objectives of the type of school or conditions of study concerned.
• The duration of the holiday work placement shall comply with the applicable training rules. The employer shall keep evidence of the training requirements.
• The holiday work experience trainee shall not receive payment or benefits in kind, nor is she/he entitled to such under employment law.
• There shall be no personal obligation to work, no subjection to instruction and inspection and no organisational integration in the company.
• The focus of the activity is on education and training rather than performance.

The contributions shall be calculated according to the activity in the worker or employee group of employees. With marginal employment, the marginal worker or marginal employee group of employees shall apply. If the employment lasts longer than one month, then payments to the company pension plan (pension contributions) shall be made.

Special regulations in the hotel and catering industry:

• An employment relationship is justified only by a holiday work placement in the hotel and catering industry.
• Voluntary service is excluded by a mandatory internship in the hotel and catering industry.
• The appropriate collective agreement shall be used. Holiday work experience trainees shall be entitled at least to remuneration equivalent to the applicable collectively agreed provisions.
• These holiday work experience trainees shall submit claims using the worker or employee group of employees.

Further links 

• Template for a work placement employment contract (→ AK)^{German text}
• Practice guidelines for work placement trainees (→ ÖGK)^{German text}
• Work for children and young people (→ Work Inspectorate)^{German text}
• General Accident Insurance Institution (→ AUVA)^{German text}
• Pupils and Students (→ AUVA)^{German text}