The United Nations attracts workers from all over the world to Geneva, including thousands of interns. But few of them manage to secure paid internships. According to the Fair Internship Initiative (FII), a global advocacy network that represents interns and young professionals working at UN agencies, 80% of internship positions do not include a salary. For the remaining 20%, low pay makes it hard for interns to survive in places like New York or Geneva, one of the most expensive cities in the world. Canton Geneva has recently introduced a minimum wage of around CHF4,000 ($4,500) per month, but this does not apply to international organisations. For several years, interns working for international organisations have come together to defend their rights, including the right to fair pay. In the case of unpaid internships, some UN organisations offer other benefits, such as discounts at staff canteens or free language lessons. Critics of the current system say only graduates from...
