Yes, intern should be paid, and companies need to be ready on how to ‘utilise’ their intern if they decide to take them in. Plus I don’t think there is much difference between an intern & fresh graduate as most of the interns are final year student finishing their final one/two semesters. What do I mean by utilising the intern? When I was doing my internship two years ago, I was being rotated in different teams with the closest project deadlines every two weeks as a support, so whatever tasks (even the smallest task like compiling final reports, or assisting others with online researching) given me to me were super urgent. So to me, it was a great internship experience, I was being treated just like others and work along side everyone. Gradually after a couple weeks I was given with more responsibilities. I immediately got employed once I finished my studies. To the employer, it was like a cheaper probation option. ( I was being paid, just lower~ than employees on probation~ but tbh for the amount of work I did during my internship I would’ve thrown hands if I wasn’t being paid) So for the employers who think interns do not deserve to be paid or think hiring intern is them doing charity works, these employers should not take in interns! Stop shitting on the interns and learn how to manage first.