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Government bids to ease work experience scheme concerns Government bids to ease work experience scheme concerns
(about 3 hours later)
The government will attempt to draw a line under the controversy surrounding its work experience initiatives later. The government will meet companies later as it attempts to draw a line under controversy surrounding its work experience initiatives.
Representatives of dozens of companies are due to meet Employment Minister Chris Grayling to discuss the schemes. Employment Minister Chris Grayling will hold talks with dozens of firms.
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 schemes, 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 say the intiatives are "slave labour" but the government insists they help prepare jobless young people for employment.
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 they are not voluntary and concerns participants can lose benefits if they leave unpaid placements early.
Job guarantees
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. Some companies have urged ministers to remove any threat that those who fail to complete a period of work experience would lose their benefit payments, with baker Greggs threatening to pull out over the issue.
Benefits continue Mark Dunk, an unemployed activist with the trades union-backed Right to Work group which campaigns for alternative job creation policies, told the BBC placements must not amount to "unpaid forced labour".
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. "If you go and do work you're making money for those companies, why can't they pay? It's absolutely degrading to... do exactly the same job as someone else but not be paid."
Fast-food chain Burger King became the latest firm to pull out of the schemes. Travel costs
Fast-food chain Burger King has also pulled 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. 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
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 bookseller Waterstones and electrical retailer Maplin have already left.
'Building confidence'
However, former Marks and Spencer chief Sir Stuart Rose told the BBC if he had a child who was long-term unemployed, he would put them into the scheme.
He said it would: "Give them the chance of finding work by giving them skills that they haven't got, by giving real life work-experience, by building their confidence, by adding to their CV... which meant they had a better chance of getting a job."
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.
A Department for Work and Pensions spokesman stressed the work experience was voluntary.
"We are offering young jobseekers the opportunity to get invaluable work experience which plays a vital part in helping people get into the jobs market.
"A number of Britain's biggest employers are giving young people a chance to sample life in the workplace and they should be applauded for it."
Have you been affected by any of the issues raised in this story? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below.Have you been affected by any of the issues raised in this story? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below.