Latest news: Interns losing out

The annual Real Prospects Higher Education study shows that nearly half of Interns don’t get paid. 12/09/2011

The study, carried out by Graduate Prospects, revealed that although students realise the possibility of developing skills and confidence in a work placement or internship, they felt that universities could do more to help organise such internships.

‘Despite the hype around unpaid work experience placements over the last few years, we can see from the study that a huge proportion of interns still have to work for free,’ said graduate prospects chief executive, Mike Hill.

IT employer FDM Group further echoed this sentiment by suggesting suitable wages to members of staff at all levels, whether they are interns in full-time education or not.

‘Not paying students for work that has been beneficial to a company is simply unjust and breeds contempt amongst a generation of students and graduates that is already suffering,’ said Madeleine Field, FDM Group recruitment manager.

After much debate, the trade union congress, the government and various employers institutes have published the first best code of practice for high-quality internships. The document states that if a placement is undertaken for more than six weeks and involves a list of duties and working hours, then the national minimum wage should be paid.

However, due to loopholes in the current system, this decision still lies completely in the hands of the employers.