Firms under fire over ‘misuse’ of unpaid internships

Unions have warned of the “growing misuse” of unpaid interns across sections of British industry as the government issued new guidance to firms on the payment of the minimum wage for work experience.

The Business Department said it wanted to clarify when work experience staff and interns were entitled to be paid.

Where an individual is classed as a worker, he or she must be paid at least the national minimum wage, the government said.

Employment relations minister Edward Davey said: “Internships and work experience of all forms offer an excellent opportunity in helping to bridge the gap between education and the workplace, and for businesses it allows them access to a wide talent pool of some of our best and brightest who didn’t take the traditional route into a job. Fairness, though, is absolutely paramount with all placements.

When a worker is entitled to the minimum wage, they should be paid it and we will continue to enforce the law.”