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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Government bids to ease work experience scheme concerns | Government bids to ease work experience scheme concerns |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The government will attempt to draw a line under the controversy surrounding its work experience initiatives later. | The government will attempt to draw a line under the controversy surrounding its work experience initiatives later. |
| Representatives of dozens of companies are due to meet Employment Minister Chris Grayling to discuss the schemes. | Representatives of dozens of companies are due to meet Employment Minister Chris Grayling to discuss the schemes. |
| Firms including Sainsbury's, Burger King and Matalan have quit the scheme, citing concern among the public. | Firms including Sainsbury's, Burger King and Matalan have quit the scheme, citing concern among the public. |
| Critics have described the initiatives as "slave labour" but the government insists the schemes can help prepare jobless young people for employment. | Critics have described the initiatives as "slave labour" but the government insists the schemes can help prepare jobless young people for employment. |
| Job guarantees | Job guarantees |
| Several of the government's work experience schemes have come under fire in recent weeks. | Several of the government's work experience schemes have come under fire in recent weeks. |
| There are accusations that they are not entirely voluntary and concerns that participants can lose benefits if they leave the placements early. | There are accusations that they are not entirely voluntary and concerns that participants can lose benefits if they leave the placements early. |
| Campaigners have targeted several firms, and Tesco changed its policy within days of a protest at one of its stores. | Campaigners have targeted several firms, and Tesco changed its policy within days of a protest at one of its stores. |
| The supermarket giant said it would start to pay those on work experience, and guarantee a job when placements went well. | The supermarket giant said it would start to pay those on work experience, and guarantee a job when placements went well. |
| Representatives from a number of major UK firms will attend the meeting on Wednesday. | Representatives from a number of major UK firms will attend the meeting on Wednesday. |
| Benefits continue | Benefits continue |
| Some of the companies have stated they want ministers to remove any threat that those who fail to complete a period of work experience would lose their benefit payments. | Some of the companies have stated they want ministers to remove any threat that those who fail to complete a period of work experience would lose their benefit payments. |
| Fast-food chain Burger King became the latest firm to pull out of the schemes. | Fast-food chain Burger King became the latest firm to pull out of the schemes. |
| It said it had registered to take on youngsters at its Slough headquarters but withdrew due to "public concerns". | It said it had registered to take on youngsters at its Slough headquarters but withdrew due to "public concerns". |
| Burger King said it registered for the voluntary Get Britain Working programme six weeks ago but had not recruited anyone so far. | Burger King said it registered for the voluntary Get Britain Working programme six weeks ago but had not recruited anyone so far. |
| Participants continue to receive jobseeker's allowance and may receive a contribution to travel or childcare costs. | Participants continue to receive jobseeker's allowance and may receive a contribution to travel or childcare costs. |
| But anyone who cuts a placement short after more than a week may have their benefits stopped for two weeks. | But anyone who cuts a placement short after more than a week may have their benefits stopped for two weeks. |
| Unpaid placement | Unpaid placement |
| Supermarket Sainsbury's said the small number of its stores that took part in the scheme had since ceased participation, as it was not company policy. | Supermarket Sainsbury's said the small number of its stores that took part in the scheme had since ceased participation, as it was not company policy. |
| Fashion chain Matalan said it had suspended its involvement pending a review and book seller Waterstones and electrical retailer Maplin have already left. | Fashion chain Matalan said it had suspended its involvement pending a review and book seller Waterstones and electrical retailer Maplin have already left. |
| Mr Grayling has defended the scheme, saying half of those who joined had found a job, often with the company that placed them on work experience. | Mr Grayling has defended the scheme, saying half of those who joined had found a job, often with the company that placed them on work experience. |
| The programme is aimed at 16 to 24-year-olds unemployed for more than three months but less than nine months. | The programme is aimed at 16 to 24-year-olds unemployed for more than three months but less than nine months. |
| Participants have an unpaid placement for two to eight weeks, working 25 to 30 hours a week. | Participants have an unpaid placement for two to eight weeks, working 25 to 30 hours a week. |
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