A YORKSHIRE MEP has hosted a European Parliament event calling for action to be taken to end the “exploitation” and unfair working conditions of interns.

Liberal Democrat Rebecca Taylor, vice-president of the Parliament’s cross-party Youth Intergroup network, said: “The priority should be putting an end to unpaid traineeships – I regard them as a form of social discrimination, as those who cannot afford to support themselves lose out or end up living precariously or running up debts.”

The event was attended by companies, policy-makers and interns. Ms Taylor said the European Parliament had to “get its own house in order” first by adopting the European Charter for Quality Internships.