The introduction of an anonymous “whistleblower hotline” for interns in Spain marks a significant step in tackling labor market abuses. Now, young professionals can report exploitation during their internships without revealing their identity. This move has already sparked discussion among employers and students, as the repercussions for companies may be quite substantial.
The system, launched at the initiative of Pedro Sánchez’s government, requires applicants to complete a detailed questionnaire. The questions cover not only formal details — such as company name, internship duration and year, whether the internship was mandatory — but also personal impressions, which help uncover hidden practices of replacing employees with interns or violations of working conditions. This approach makes it possible to detect subtle cases of abuse that might previously have gone unnoticed.
Special attention is paid to questions about who performed similar duties before the intern’s arrival, how mentorship is organized, and how applicable the acquired knowledge was in practice. Importantly, the system allows for reporting not just current, but also past incidents if they have come to light. This broadens the scope for identifying systemic issues within companies.
Oversight and Consequences
After submitting the questionnaire, the information is sent to the Youth Institute (Injuve), which reviews the data and forwards it to the Labor and Social Security Inspectorate. Even though the new Intern Statute has not yet come into force, violations identified can still result in real sanctions under current legislation. This mechanism allows authorities to respond to abuses immediately instead of waiting for new fines to be introduced.
The questionnaire covers not only duties and mentorship, but also payment, registration in the social security system, and situations where internships follow one after another within the same company. This helps to uncover schemes in which interns effectively replace regular staff, allowing companies to cut salary and contribution costs.
Some questions require detailed responses to describe the situation as accurately as possible. Others are simple, with ‘yes’ or ‘no’ options. This format streamlines information gathering and speeds up the complaint review process. As a result, even anonymous reports can serve as grounds for inspection and subsequent employer penalties.
Response and prospects
Although the new Intern Statute provides for fines of up to €220,000 for serious violations, these will only be enforced once all legislative procedures are complete. However, companies are already facing the risk of inspections and sanctions under existing regulations. This is forcing employers to rethink their approach to internships and pay closer attention to conditions for young professionals.
Submitting complaints through Injuve ensures that no report goes unnoticed. The labor inspectorate can initiate inspections, launch proceedings, and impose sanctions—even if the new regulations are not yet in force. This approach helps protect interns’ rights and increases transparency in the labor market.
In recent years, Spain has seen a rise in complaints from interns about replacing regular staff, lack of mentors, and unpaid work. The new tool not only makes it possible to identify such issues, but also enables a prompt response. This could change attitudes toward internships and boost young professionals’ trust in employers.
Context and similar cases
In recent years, Spain has repeatedly seen cases where interns have performed the same work as regular employees but have not received fair pay or official contracts. In 2024, several major companies faced inspections after anonymous complaints, resulting in fines and changes to their internal procedures. A similar anonymous reporting system had previously been implemented in some regions, but it has now expanded nationwide. According to RUSSPAIN.COM, similar initiatives in other EU countries have also proven effective in combating violations in the labor market. The introduction of the ‘buzón’ in Spain could serve as an example for other countries where abuse of interns remains a pressing issue.
