In 2024, approximately 925,266 unpaid interns in Spain have registered contributions to the Social Security system, marking a significant milestone for student rights. This initiative, implemented on January 1, 2024, as part of a pension reform, allows unpaid interns to accumulate pension benefits despite not receiving direct compensation. The Ministry of Social Security, led by Elma Saiz, emphasized that this change aims to benefit young people by enabling them to establish a foundation for future retirement savings. Previously, only interns receiving financial compensation participated in the Social Security scheme, a policy introduced in 2011 under the socialist government of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. The Ministry had projected that the new provisions would extend to around 1.2 million interns, and current data suggests that this estimate is almost accurate. Maria Antonia Peña, President of the Sectorial Commission Crue (Conference of Rectors of Spanish Universities) - Student Affairs, confirmed that the system is functioning effectively after resolving various technical details with the Social Security Treasury. The costs associated with these contributions are minimal for the institutions hosting the interns, as the Social Security provides a 95% exemption. For vocational training internships, the Ministry of Education covers the remaining 5%. In the case of university internships, the responsibility for this contribution falls primarily on the public or private entity hosting the student, although many universities end up covering these costs themselves due to financial constraints. Adrià Junyent, Secretary of Youth for CC OO, remarked that the figures indicate the success of this new policy, countering earlier fears of a potential collapse in internship offerings. Eduardo Magaldi from UGT echoed this sentiment, stating the initiative has had positive repercussions for numerous students, dispelling predictions of a mass withdrawal of companies from offering internships. Peña highlighted that the anticipated crisis would have occurred if universities had not absorbed the costs of the contributions, noting that a significant portion of unpaid internships take place within public institutions, which typically do not cover these expenses. The reported total of 925,266 unpaid interns who have contributed to Social Security prompts a reevaluation of the current internship landscape. Junyent cautioned against further increasing the number of internships available, suggesting that the existing system may already be overstretched, particularly within small and medium-sized enterprises that may not be equipped to accommodate more interns. In the context of ongoing discussions around a proposed Statute for Interns, Javier Muñoz from the Youth Council of Spain welcomed the successful implementation of unpaid intern contributions but stressed the need for further improvements. The Statute, initially introduced in June 2023, aims to regulate internships more thoroughly but has faced delays in legislative processing due to political dynamics within the government. Key aspects of the proposed Statute include a limitation on extracurricular internship hours to 480 and the requirement for companies to reimburse interns for expenses incurred during their internships. However, university rectors have expressed strong opposition to these provisions, arguing that they would impose unsustainable financial burdens on educational institutions. As discussions continue, Magaldi stressed the importance of finalizing the Statute to enhance the overall conditions for interns. Muñoz reiterated that the approved measures would significantly improve the situation for many individuals engaged in internships. The ongoing dialogue underscores the critical need for a balanced approach to internship regulations that protects student rights while considering the operational realities faced by educational institutions and businesses alike.