Cost of doing a summer internship has soared by 15%, new analysis from Labour findsNew analysis from Labour has found that the minimum costs of doing a one-month internship have climbed by 15% since before the pandemic.
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New analysis from Labour has found that the minimum costs of doing
a one-month internship have climbed by 15% since before the
pandemic. As the summer holidays begin, doing a summer
internship remains a key route into employment for many young
people, but as costs spiral many could find themselves unable to
take up opportunities. The Labour findings show
prospective interns would be a further £160 out of pocket doing a
one-month internship in London...Request free trial
New analysis from Labour has found that the minimum costs of doing a one-month internship have climbed by 15% since before the pandemic. As the summer holidays begin, doing a summer internship remains a key route into employment for many young people, but as costs spiral many could find themselves unable to take up opportunities. The Labour findings show prospective interns would be a further £160 out of pocket doing a one-month internship in London compared to 2018, as the costs of basic necessities like rent, bills and food continue to rise. The trend extends beyond the capital too. In Manchester, interns would find themselves an extra £127 worse off. Record inflation means that the minimum costs of doing an internship for a month have increased specifically by 14% in London and 15% in Manchester since 2018. This is due to the sharp increase in the price of basic necessities. For example, average rents in London are £84 more expensive a month in London compared to 2018 when inflation was taken into consideration, and monthly transport costs are 25% more expensive in Manchester. Employers have to pay interns if the intern is required to turn up to work, if the work they are doing is regular and if their employer has work for them to do.(1) But internships remain a grey area, and unpaid internships are not explicitly prohibited. This means some bad bosses can still take advantage of young workers as they look to enter sometimes very competitive jobs markets. As part of its New Deal for Working People, Labour would ban unpaid internships, except when they are part of an education or training course. Labour would also shore up employment rights for interns through the introduction of a single status of worker, for all but the genuinely self-employed. This will guarantee rights such as holiday, sick pay and protection against unfair dismissal from day one. Justin Madders MP, Shadow Employment Minister, said: “It’s a disgrace that under the Tories, today’s young people are still being shut out from certain career pathways because they can’t afford to work unpaid for weeks on end. A fair day’s work should mean a fair day’s pay. “This Tory Government has continuously resisted calls to properly ban unpaid internships over the years despite the overwhelming evidence that it acts as a block on social mobility. This means many jobs are increasingly the preserve of those who can afford to take on an unpaid internship, which is often seen as an essential foot on the ladder for many jobs. It cannot be right for the Conservatives to curtail aspiration by failing to tackle these financial barriers. “Labour will give every young person the opportunity to succeed. Our New Deal for Working People will ban unpaid internships and open up routes into employment for more students and young people. We will also boost protections in work through the introduction of a single status of worker with legal rights from day one.” ENDS Notes to Editors (1) Worksmart, https://worksmart.org.uk/work-rights/young-workers/interns-rights/do-interns-have-any-rights-work To calculate the increase in costs:
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