Minister for Employment Rights and Consumer Protection (): The Government's Plan to
Make Work Pay is a core part of our mission to grow the economy,
raise living standards across the country, and create
opportunities for all. This will help tackle low pay, poor
working conditions, and poor job security, all of which have been
holding our economy back.
In our Plan we committed to banning unpaid internships, unless
they are part of a formal educational or training course. This
Government believes that a fair day's work deserves a fair day's
pay and employers should pay workers what they are entitled.
Today, we are publishing the Government's response to the call
for evidence on unpaid internships.
The call for evidence related to internships which are unpaid or
paid below the National Minimum Wage, work trials, voluntary
workers, volunteers, and work shadowing.
Whilst voluntary workers, volunteers, and individuals who are
work shadowing are not entitled to the National Minimum Wage,
there are a small number of employers who are engaging
individuals, particularly young people, under these terms
incorrectly to avoid paying them.
This Government is committed to striking a balance between
ensuring individuals have a choice in the type of work they do,
and how they do it, whilst ensuring employers are not able to
take advantage of individuals, especially young people, by making
them work for free.
The call for evidence attracted responses from employers,
individuals, and interested stakeholders on unpaid internships
and internships paid below the National Minimum Wage, and other
similar categories of people who may be conflated with interns.
It is important that employers can continue to offer genuine
opportunities, such as work shadowing or work experience
placements which are permitted under the National Minimum wage
law that can offer young people valuable insights into the world
of work. We do not want to close the door on these opportunities
which can be an enriching experience for young people, and we are
clear we will not allow this opportunity to lead to exploitation.
The evidence highlighted that whilst the majority of employers
are doing the right thing, there is a small minority who flout
the law. This is neither fair on workers nor responsible
employers. To tackle this problem, the government will:
- Update and expand the National Minimum Wage guidance so
employers better comply with the law and workers are better aware
of their rights.
- Continue to crackdown on employers breaking the law through
existing enforcement channels and via the forthcoming Fair Work
Agency.
- Raise awareness of workers' rights through communications
campaigns to help young people understand their rights and what
action they can take if they are not being paid what they are
legally entitled to.
