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ARTICLE · 06 MARCH 2018

Unpaid Internships In The Spotlight

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Last week the Government released its response to the Taylor Report on working practices

United KingdomEmployment and HR
Libby Payne
Libby Payne
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Last week the Government released its response to the Taylor Report on working practices (see: www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-42997400). One area that has been increasingly in the news recently and which was again in the spotlight was the issue of unpaid internships. Whilst internships and work experience placements can be a great way of getting experience in an industry, when the intern is in fact working for the host company, they are entitled to the national minimum wage. Not paying at least the national minimum wage for these roles means they are effectively inaccessible to those without other sources of income and act as a barrier to entry to certain industries. The effect on social mobility in sectors where unpaid internships are prevalent has long been criticised.

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