Cait Reilly, a 22-year-old geology graduate has lodged a case against the Department for Work and Pensions in the High Court challenging a Government scheme which enables employers to take on jobseekers without paying them. Ms Reilly claims that she was made to work in her local Poundland store branch for three weeks without pay.
The government has defended itself against claims that the unpaid work experience schemes, which have been adopted by more than a dozen high street chains, are contrary to Human Rights Act legislation on forced labour. In court papers, the DWP admitted that it made a mistake by not telling Reilly she had a chance to opt out of the placement. But it says her scheme and others like it are not contrary to the Human Rights Act, and the department is "strongly resisting" the case.
Given the lack of clarity around the legal status of unpaid 'interns', and the popularity of using them in the current economic climate, the case is likely to be of wide interest – we will keep you posted!
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