With the influx of startups comes an influx of interns: these startups often promise a nice resume, a workplace that’s made for Instagram and a name card with a trendy position. In fact, there are startups that have more interns than full-time staff, and people nowadays aren’t surprised at that fact anymore.
Really. Just go to any fancy startup and an intern would greet you. An intern would prepare coffee for you and an intern might just be the one interviewing another intern.
Some schools require students to intern as part of their academic results, while some interns just do it for the experience.
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And of course bosses won’t mind. After all, it’s cheap labour and no CPF contribution is required.
Here, take a look at this video we’ve done about CPF and interns and you’ll understand.
(Since you’re here, subscribe to our YouTube Channel for more informative videos lah)
But being a ngeow boss is one thing: it’s just a smart business choice that’s unpopular with others. But if it goes beyond the dollars and cents, like this boss, then it’s not just about being business-smart: it’s unethical, and almost criminal.
Read on.
What is Internship?
For a start, here’s a brief summary of internship: there are two kinds. One requires the student to complete an internship as part of her course, and other is just someone who wants to intern for the experience (because companies always want that dreaded “1 year working experience”).
Internship is like NS: the intern would be paid an allowance, usually around $600 to $1,000 a month, and is required to “work” full-time hours.
Now, let’s delve deeper: for internship that is compulsory, students can either get the school to look for companies for them, or they can look for companies themselves.
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There are also online portals that allow companies to list internship positions, and they’re popular as students can choose what companies they intern for.
After all, as work becomes an optics for some students, internship also needs to be trendy, no?
Local Tech Company Barred from Accessing NUS Internship Portal Due to Its Director’s Behaviour
In a damning report, it’s revealed that a local tech company has been barred from engaging interns from NUS for a shocking reason: the company director allegedly got a female intern to go on a business trip with him, and there were also allegations of sexual harassment.
According to the report, the revelation came after a student told NUS faculty staff about an uncanny request: in March this year, she did a Skype interview with the director, in which the director could see her but she couldn’t see him (first red flag, no?).
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The director offered twice the usual rate of allowance to the prospective intern, provided that she accompany him on a business trip….without telling the school.
After telling the faculty staff about this request, the school immediately flagged the company and made a police report.
Then shit hit the fan.
It turns out that it’s not the first time the director has done this: there were allegations (which to be fair isn’t verified) that a student has once been harassed while on a business trip with the director during an internship.
The report also conveniently added that the director is married.
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More allegations then surfaced, as it’s revealed that the school has received feedback from three other female students, though in different departments, about “unfair work practices” in the company, and all of them terminated their internship instead of completing it.
Since early May, the company and its listings in NUS or NUS-related job portals have been removed.
According to NUS, “The university takes a serious view of any alleged harassment of our student…NUS is deeply concerned about the allegations concerning this company. The safety and well-being of our students have been, and will continue to be, our top priorities.”
Okay, but…
…It’s Not Over
In the same report, it’s mentioned that the company is still sourcing for interns under the name of a subsidiary, in schools like NTU or Lasalle.
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Of course, this leads to the next question: What tech company is that?
It’s Unknown. Yet.
It’s pretty clear that the reporter did know which company it is, but has once again conveniently left that out for obvious reasons: It’s all allegations so far, despite actions by NUS and the police report.
But if it’s true, then it’ll be an exposé as juicy as the Daryl Aiden Yow saga #justsaying
Would you be jailed for being half-naked in public? Well, the answer will shock you. Seriously. Watch this to the end and you'll understand:
