Forget the usual attention grabbing headlines especially those that put words like 'exploited' in inverted commas and examine the actual news

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber ACTUALLY said:

"Properly managed work experience programmes are an important part of preparing young people for the world of work.
But SOME employers are guilty of exploiting those keen to get that all important first job in film, TV or journalism by only paying expenses, whereas in SOME cases they should be paying them at least the minimum wage.

Our concern is that currently only young people with well-off parents can afford to work for nothing for six months or more.

This means that film and television production companies, newspapers and broadcasters risk excluding those from less privileged backgrounds."


Under the National Minimum Wage Act, interns who work rather than observe should be paid.

The reality -

The TUC has requested that The Low Pay Commission examine the conditions under which interns are actually working and that employers should pay a wage which reflects BOTH the real value of the intern's contribution AND the level of training and support offered to them during this period.