Work Experience - A Fair Opportunity For All?

The recent case of Keri Hudson brings the issue and status of "interns" into the spotlight. Keri was an intern with My Village website for two months. During that time she was responsible for a team of writers, scheduled articles and hired interns, but she was not paid. An employment tribunal found that she was a "worker" and was therefore entitled to the national minimum wage and holiday pay. This highlights the fact that employers need to be aware of the legal implications of work experience students, or interns coming into the business.

Practical experience and training in the workplace through work experience, often known as internships, is invaluable for those starting out. However, their use has come under a lot of criticism because individuals are usually unpaid. So, what rights do interns actually have?