By means of this Decree, the Ministry of Labor defines the elements of the employment internships, as follows: (i) they have a training character; (ii) there is a tripartite relationship between the student, the academic institution, and the entity that receives the student to perform the internship; (iii) they can be unpaid or with the recognition of an aid, equivalent to at least 100% of the minimum monthly legal wage (MMLW); (iv) they are supervised; and (v) they have a limited term, which cannot exceed the term established for the academic program of the student.

Likewise, the Decree determines that employment internships cannot be developed by students who are under 15 years of age.  In the case of students between ages 15 and 17, the Ministry of Labor must grant a prior authorization.

Furthermore, the internship’s schedule must be shorter than the ordinary working schedule of the entity in which the internship is being performed. In any case, it cannot be longer than the maximum working schedule. In case of students between ages 15 and 17, the schedule is shorter and it is subject to additional guidelines. 

The Decree determines that during the academic internship a plan must be set and a tutor and a monitor must be appointed. During the internship, the student preserves the moral rights of author. Nonetheless, the economic rights over essays, documents, studies or investigations performed by the student during the development of the internship correspond completely to the entity in which the internship is being executed.

According to the referred Decree, both private and public entities must report their vacancies of academic internships in the Information System of the Public Employment Service.