Why unpaid internships still exploit students in Canada

Unpaid internships remain one of the most pressing labour issues in Canada. Despite years of advocacy, the practice continues to: undermine fair work, shut out disadvantaged students, and create systemic barriers for young workers trying to enter the labour force.

On September 22^nd, 2025, the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), representing more than 250,000 workers nationwide (including 180,000 federal public service employees) launched a campaign calling on governments to end unpaid internships once and for all. Their demand is clear: ban every exception that still allows employers to exploit young workers.

PSAC’s campaign highlights three ways unpaid internships harm Canadians:

• They undermine fair labour practices.
• They perpetuate inequity.
• They block students and young workers from meaningful opportunities.

Many degree programs: nursing, teaching, graphic design, translation, and others, require students to complete internships before graduation. While meant to provide experience, these placements often come without pay.

Meanwhile, the costs of student life continue to rise. Housing, food, energy, rent, and tuition all climb while wages stagnate. Students must juggle part-time jobs to cover living expenses while simultaneously working unpaid in their field. This double burden creates stress, delays graduation, and sometimes forces students to leave their chosen career path altogether.

“Students spend years in post-secondary education being told their skills will lead to good, well-paying jobs,” PSAC’s press release states. “Still, many are forced to work without pay as they try to gain a foothold in a competitive job market.”

Sharon DeSousa, National President of PSAC, puts it bluntly, “Banks won’t accept experience as payment. All workers (including students) should be fairly compensated for the work they do.”

Unpaid internships create a two-tiered system where only students with financial support from family can afford to take them. Others (especially those from marginalized communities) are locked out of opportunities in their chosen fields. The cycle of inequity deepens as employers continue to rely on free labour while saving money on staffing.

PSAC is urging Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal government to act quickly. They want amendments to the Canada Labour Code that remove every loophole allowing unpaid internships. Their position is simple: no one should ever be forced to work without pay. “Prime Minister Carney should lead by strengthening workers’ rights in Canada and immediately ban the practice of unpaid internships,” says DeSousa.

Employers facing rising costs, inflation, and an uncertain economy will continue looking for ways to cut expenses. For too many, unpaid internships remain a convenient strategy. For students and young workers, the price is too high.

Until the federal government enforces stronger protections, unpaid internships will keep fueling inequity in Canada’s workforce. The question is whether leaders are ready to side with young workers or continue enabling a system built on free labour.