This shocking article in the Guardian points out that, under the guise of “work experience”, job-seekers are being forced to work for a number of large retail chains for no more than their standard Job Seekers’ Allowance payment (which is just £53.45 per week for those aged 18-24).
It looks like this “work experience” doesn’t teach them any new skills, it just makes them do the same work that permanent staff do – creating a situation where the unemployed are being pushed into a position where they are undercutting those in work. It seems that these retail giants, including Tesco and Sainsburys, are using this scheme to by-pass the minimum wage legislation and getting people to work for them without paying a fair rate for the job.