TO ENCOURAGE the youth to join government service, Senator Mark Villar urged his colleagues to pass a bill that seeks to provide paid internships.

“The state must recognize the vital role of the youth in nation building and by requiring them for government internship, it will encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs,” Villar said.

Senate Bill 1525 or the proposed Government Internship Program Act seeks to mandate all government agencies to provide compensation to internship program that will complement the government’s recruitment efforts.

Under the measure, interns shall be Filipino citizens aged 18 to 25 at the time of the application. The internship period shall be for at least three to six months.

Interns shall be provided with a stipend amounting to 75 percent of the existing rate of Step 1 of Salary Grade 1 and non-taxable.

The amount of the stipend shall be based on the trainee’s actual attendance, absences and tardiness incurred.

Among the duties that may be assigned interns are clerical/secretarial work, customer service, research and support services.

An intern shall be a beneficiary of the program only once.

“The GIP shall not be considered as employment. Thus, there is no employer-employee relationship between the beneficiary and the institution. GIP graduates shall be given preference in the hiring of workers in the institutions,” Villar said.

The Department of Labor and Employment currently implements the GIP to provide young workers, particularly the indigent, the opportunity to demonstrate their talents and skills in public service.

Interns can be aged between 18 and 30 and graduates of at least high school or vocational-technical.

“The internship program bridges the gap between the academe and the workplace and it shall be beneficial both to the government as well as to the students,” Villar said.