This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-29996607
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Unpaid internships 'favour the rich' | Unpaid internships 'favour the rich' |
| (about 14 hours later) | |
| Taking an unpaid internship can cost an individual £926 a month in London or £804 in Manchester, suggests research for an education charity. | Taking an unpaid internship can cost an individual £926 a month in London or £804 in Manchester, suggests research for an education charity. |
| The Sutton Trust says the cost of working for nothing rules out all but the wealthy and wants most interns to be paid at least minimum wage. | The Sutton Trust says the cost of working for nothing rules out all but the wealthy and wants most interns to be paid at least minimum wage. |
| A third (31%) of graduate interns are unpaid, according to the charity's analysis of official data. | A third (31%) of graduate interns are unpaid, according to the charity's analysis of official data. |
| The CBI warned that banning unpaid internships could reduce opportunities. | The CBI warned that banning unpaid internships could reduce opportunities. |
| The report uses government figures to suggest that some 22,000 interns may be working for nothing. | The report uses government figures to suggest that some 22,000 interns may be working for nothing. |
| It analyses the costs of living in London and Manchester for interns on sixth-month work placements. | It analyses the costs of living in London and Manchester for interns on sixth-month work placements. |
| Taking into account rental for a room in a shared property, household bills, council tax, food and miscellaneous spending on items such as broadband, cleaning products and clothing, a Londoner would pay, £5,556 for the period and a Mancunian £4,827, amounting to £926 and £804 each month. | Taking into account rental for a room in a shared property, household bills, council tax, food and miscellaneous spending on items such as broadband, cleaning products and clothing, a Londoner would pay, £5,556 for the period and a Mancunian £4,827, amounting to £926 and £804 each month. |
| The researchers excluded transport costs as these are often paid by interns' employers. | The researchers excluded transport costs as these are often paid by interns' employers. |
| 'Competitive' | 'Competitive' |
| "Internships commonly represent a first step in the ladder towards a professional career in the most competitive sectors, including fashion, journalism, politics, law, finance and the charity sector. | "Internships commonly represent a first step in the ladder towards a professional career in the most competitive sectors, including fashion, journalism, politics, law, finance and the charity sector. |
| "Because these areas are so competitive, employers are often able to offer internships as completely unpaid positions," says the report. | "Because these areas are so competitive, employers are often able to offer internships as completely unpaid positions," says the report. |
| "These issues make unpaid internships a serious and pressing problem for social mobility." | "These issues make unpaid internships a serious and pressing problem for social mobility." |
| The trust says all interns on placements of over a month should be paid at least the national minimum wage of £6.50 an hour, and preferably the national living wage of £7.85 - or £9.15 in London. | The trust says all interns on placements of over a month should be paid at least the national minimum wage of £6.50 an hour, and preferably the national living wage of £7.85 - or £9.15 in London. |
| It wants internships to be advertised publicly, rather than being filled informally and recruitment processes to be fair, transparent and based on merit. | It wants internships to be advertised publicly, rather than being filled informally and recruitment processes to be fair, transparent and based on merit. |
| Dr Lee Elliot Major, the trust's director of development and policy, said taking an unpaid internship was "beyond the means of the vast majority of individuals". | Dr Lee Elliot Major, the trust's director of development and policy, said taking an unpaid internship was "beyond the means of the vast majority of individuals". |
| "Paying all interns who work for over a month the minimum wage would significantly improve access to these placements for those from more modest backgrounds, offering them a stepping stone into many coveted jobs, thus increasing social mobility." | "Paying all interns who work for over a month the minimum wage would significantly improve access to these placements for those from more modest backgrounds, offering them a stepping stone into many coveted jobs, thus increasing social mobility." |
| 'Cracking down' | 'Cracking down' |
| An Ipsos Mori poll of 1,700 adults in England for the charity suggested 70% felt unpaid internships were unfair as only the wealthy could afford to take them. | An Ipsos Mori poll of 1,700 adults in England for the charity suggested 70% felt unpaid internships were unfair as only the wealthy could afford to take them. |
| Some 55% agreed internships of up to six months should pay at least minimum wage, with 73% supporting it for placements of over a year. | Some 55% agreed internships of up to six months should pay at least minimum wage, with 73% supporting it for placements of over a year. |
| Katja Hall, deputy director of the CBI, said: "The law is clear. Someone doing a job should be paid, but it's important to distinguish between that and informal workplace experience or work shadowing. | Katja Hall, deputy director of the CBI, said: "The law is clear. Someone doing a job should be paid, but it's important to distinguish between that and informal workplace experience or work shadowing. |
| "Banning unpaid internships would only reduce the number of opportunities available." | "Banning unpaid internships would only reduce the number of opportunities available." |
| Ms Hall said internships boosted young people's chances of permanent employment and businesses should be encouraged to offer them. | Ms Hall said internships boosted young people's chances of permanent employment and businesses should be encouraged to offer them. |
| A spokeswoman for the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills said getting a job for the first time could be "daunting" for any young person. | |
| "Internships can provide an important first step and are often a valuable way of helping young people start work. They should be open to everyone in a fair and transparent way. | |
| "Anyone who is a worker is entitled to be paid at least the minimum wage, this includes interns who fall into the worker category. | |
| "The government is cracking down on employers who break the law by not paying the minimum wage - we are naming and shaming offenders and increasing penalties." | |
| The spokeswoman urged anyone who felt exploited to contact the Pay and Work Rights Helpline on 0800 917 2368. | The spokeswoman urged anyone who felt exploited to contact the Pay and Work Rights Helpline on 0800 917 2368. |
| Stephen Isherwood, chief executive of the Association of Graduate Recruiters, said the majority of its members paid their interns. | Stephen Isherwood, chief executive of the Association of Graduate Recruiters, said the majority of its members paid their interns. |
| "We don't agree with long-term unpaid internships as a general rule; they aren't good for social mobility as they exclude people who can't afford to work unpaid. Talented graduates expect to be paid for their work." | "We don't agree with long-term unpaid internships as a general rule; they aren't good for social mobility as they exclude people who can't afford to work unpaid. Talented graduates expect to be paid for their work." |