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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 meet companies later as it attempts to draw a line under controversy surrounding its work experience initiatives. The government will meet companies later as it attempts to draw a line under controversy surrounding its unpaid work experience initiatives.
Employment Minister Chris Grayling will hold talks with dozens of firms. Employment Minister Chris Grayling will hold talks with dozens of firms. Some want a threat to withdraw benefits from those leaving placements early removed.
Firms including Sainsbury's, Burger King and Matalan have quit the schemes, citing concern among the public. Public concern has prompted firms such as Sainsbury's and Burger King to quit.
Critics say the intiatives are "slave labour" but the government insists they help prepare jobless young people for employment. Critics call the schemes "slave labour" but ministers insist they help prepare jobless young people for employment.
Several of the government's work experience schemes have come under fire in recent weeks. In recent weeks, campaigners have argued that the initiatives are not voluntary amid concerns participants can lose benefits if they quit their placement before it ends.
There are accusations they are not voluntary and concerns participants can lose benefits if they leave unpaid placements early. Supermarket Tesco changed its policy within days of a protest at one of its stores, saying it would start to pay those on work experience and guarantee a job when placements went well.
Job guarantees 'Not clear'
Campaigners have targeted several firms, and Tesco changed its policy within days of a protest at one of its stores. Baker Greggs has offered 40 placements since June, with 14 of the participants going on to secure permanent jobs.
The supermarket giant said it would start to pay those on work experience, and guarantee a job when placements went well. Its chief executive Ken McMeikan said his firm still believed in the scheme but the benefits penalties had created concern and confusion.
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. But he added: "If... somebody decides they don't want to complete the placement, we don't feel they should lose their benefits. It's still not clear just how many people have been penalised for not completing their placements."
Participants in the voluntary Get Britain Working programme 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.
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".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".
"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.""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."
Travel costs Fast-food chain Burger King has pulled out of the schemes.
Fast-food chain Burger King has also pulled out of the schemes. 'Wanted experience'
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 six weeks ago but withdrew due to "public concerns", without having recruited anyone.
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.
But anyone who cuts a placement short after more than a week may have their benefits stopped for two weeks.
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 bookseller Waterstones and electrical retailer Maplin have already left. Fashion chain Matalan said it had suspended its involvement pending a review, while bookseller Waterstones and electrical retailer Maplin have already left.
'Building confidence' However, Daniel Kelly, 19, who was taken on permanently in Greggs' payroll department after his placement, said: "I never signed up for a wage. I signed up primarily to get experience."
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. And 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.
Permanent jobs
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."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.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. "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.