The lack of interesting information regarding the EU and forthcoming Parliamentarian elections in the national media and general boredom with the same news already for weeks, forced me too cover some other (hopefully at least provocative) topics. I decided to speak about the phenomenon which is generally unspoken in Slovenia, but was surprisingly mentioned in one of the national newspaper during this week: student work!
You might be thinking: what is so interesting in a student work? Following the fact that in Slovenia 2/3 students also work makes you at least a bit curious, right? The popularity of student labor force is a signal that private, public and even governmental services rather employ a person with a student status than a young graduate without it. In the link above is clearly shown the main reason for preferring student workers which is in first stance hidden in the labor costs. For example, in a case of a contract work employers have to pay 60 % of taxes, while in the case of student work this amount decreases on 10 % + additional 4, 27 euros for insurance of the “student”. The sum is paid to the student service - institution which is a link between students and employers.
Some of the portals advertise positive effects of student work following the idea that students in this way get practical experiences and also a confidence by the side of employers who might after graduation offer them a real job. Even though this is partially true, it should not be neglected that students in many cases simply abandon their studies and rather earn good salary (because of lower taxes it might be much higher than the income of an average regular worker) having in mind the idea that they will not be so greatly awarded after a graduation. Furthermore, the door are open for so-called fictional students who basically apply to the university only because of the student status through which they can work, but have no intention to study.
And then we have a category of young graduates. People who finished their studies, who in many cases also (mis) used a student status as long as possible (because it is convenient but in many cases also because they are aware of the fact that without it chances for getting a job are much lower) face their first “real” employment. Actually, it is not the first one and it was more than real when they were working instead of studying. However, before they easily entered into the labor market because a student status was a ticket into the working sphere. Afterwards, the situation is much more difficult. Firstly, even though their CV is full of working experiences gathered from student work, the employers do not always recognize them as real. If the candidate does not by chance continue with a work in the same working environment as during the studies, his/her experiences are mostly neglected. Secondly, the internship is not obligatory anymore. In this sense, young graduates in many cases cannot really get an access into the sphere they are theoretically qualified for. The last is definitely connected also with a gap between educational system and requests on a labor market, which for example results in too many social scientists and on the other hand in desperately needed profiles from medicine.
Student work definitely provides a social peace in the society in a sense that a remarkable category of people has an access to work and study. On the other hand, the burden is lighter also for their parents who in many cases would not be able to support their children’s studies. And if nothing else already the situation in 1968 showed that it is not good to mess around with students : D…
However, having in mind that the Slovenian political establishment has not tackled this problem at all, it might be necessary that students provoke some questions. There is a lot of truth in a comment: “Students, be aware of the fact that current earnings will bring you bad fortune after a graduation when you will be simply replaced by other students regardless the fact that you are more experienced and qualified…”
Or do we really want to be just another brick in the wall?
(24 votes, average: 4.04 out of 5)
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