Burger King quits unpaid work scheme

A FAST food giant has become the latest firm to pull the plug on its involvement with a controversial government-backed work experience scheme.

Burger King has cited public concerns for the decision to withdraw from the programme, which has been branded a “slave labour” initiative. Protests have been mounting about the threat of participants losing benefits if they pull out of a placement.

Poundland, Sainsbury’s, Matalan, Waterstones and Maplin had already announced they are withdrawing, while Tesco and Greggs have expressed concern about the possibility of participants losing benefits.

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Burger King said it had intended to take on youngsters on work experience at its Slough headquarters but had not recruited anyone for the scheme.

In a statement, the firm said: “We registered for the voluntary Get Britain Working work experience programme six weeks ago, with the intention of providing work experience at our HQ in Slough.

“Since then we have not recruited anyone for this scheme. Given the recent concerns expressed by the public we have decided to no longer have any involvement in the programme.”

The programme is aimed at 16- to 24-year-olds unemployed for more than three months, but less than nine.

Participants have an unpaid placement for two to eight weeks, working 25 to 30 hours a week.

UK employment minister Chris Grayling defended the scheme, saying half of those who joined had found a job, often with the company that placed them on work experience.

“All of the evidence we can see is that this does better than simply leaving people on jobseeker’s allowance, it actually helps more young people get into work.”

Conservative MP George Eustice said companies considering leaving the scheme should not bow to public pressure.

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“The truth is that the first step to getting a job and getting back into the jobs market is having some work experience and learning to work and turning up for work on time and being part of a relied-on team,” he said.

A spokeswoman for the Department for Work and Pensions said: “While Burger King might have taken a handful of young people, campaigners need to think carefully about whether their actions are really in the interests of the young people who will now be denied the opportunity to gain valuable experience.”