“I Was Offered a Job During My Internship But Still No Pay,” Here is What To Do

By Florence Mukunya,

“Three months ago I got an internship in a very good company, after I working for a month in the company, due to my good work they decided to offer me a sales job. It’s been 2 months now and I am yet to receive any penny from them. Whenever I approach my boss concerning my payment, he keeps on telling me “we shall talk”. I really need an advice on how to go about asking him about my salary and contract. Thank you in advance,” says Ken Muchiri in his email

Speaking to Benson Ng’ang’a HR Officer Bata Shoe Company, he cites that such cases are becoming very common especially when companies are asked to reduce labour cost.

“Nowadays when employers want to cut down labour cost they advertise for internship jobs and when they get a highly competent candidate they retain them as interns where they subject them to duties of a fully employed personnel,” says Mr. Ng’ang’a

On how to go about asking for the money owed to Mr. Muchiri, Benson offers the following advice.

1. Make sure you have contract letter.
“A contract letter helps to identify and back up your case as a contract employee in the company which you can use for claiming your money , otherwise if you don’t have one, your employee can claim you are just volunteering, thus no pay for you,” says Mr. Ng’ang’a

2. Sit down with your boss.
Mr. Ng’ang’a advises that, “before you think of taking any legal action, sit with your boss first and request him to clarify on the terms of your employment, if you do not have any documents stating on the terms and conditions, this is the time to ask for the legal document and make sure that both parties sign on the same”

3. Take legal actions
“Though I would highly not advise this to interns, you find that when the employer offer internship, they are just trying to assist interns gain experience, so it would be the case of burning bridges, but then again am not of the opinion that inters should be exploited, so in circumstances where one talks with the employer and he is adamant on the situation, I would say take legal action,” continues Mr. Ng’ang’a

Finally, Mr.Ng’ang’a has an opinion on unpaid internships.

“Unpaid internships are reasonable, but the employer should make sure they explain the terms and conditions to the intern before hiring him/her, a document or a letter with the dates of when the internship commences and when it ends and also the terms and duties to be carried out by the intern should be clearly indicated and then signed by both the intern and the employer,”

For those looking to apply for internships, you are advised that you should understand the terms of your internship and ask for the necessary documents before you start your internship, and should the internship progress to a job, make sure you also ask for the right documents that clearly shows your position in the company, this will help in avoiding being trapped and being exploited in the name of gaining experience.

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