Interns could claim unpaid wages

According to the How Do web site an Employment Tribunal ruling means that unpaid interns could now be entitled to claim back the national minimum wage, even if they originally agreed to work for nothing.

The National Union of Journalists is also calling on fellow unions and organisations opposed to free internships to join its campaign to end them.
“We will play our part in the campaign to bring exploitative employers to book, using minimum wage legislation and other legal means, to steadily change internship culture from one of exploitation to one of genuine learning opportunities,” said NUJ general secretary, Jeremy Dear.
The crucial case came in November last year, when the Reading Employment Tribunal ruled in favour of an intern who worked for a production company in London. Despite agreeing only to receive expenses, she later decided to seek payment after the internship ended. The tribunal recognised that a worker is entitled to the National Minimum Wage - whether or not they have agreed to work for nothing.
It potentially opens the door to anyone who has worked as an unpaid intern, to recover up to £232 per 40-hour week.
Interns could claim unpaid wages “This practice continues to exploit dreams and exclude new talent, undermining the diversity of our profession, just when we should be nurturing and supporting the people coming into the industry,” continued Dear.
To recover the minimum wage through an Employment Tribunal, you would have to make the claim no later than 3 months after a payment would have been due.
Should you fall beyond this, yet within 6 years of finishing the internship, you can apply through the county courts.
This ruling does not apply to students on work experience placements.

Rights for Interns

The TUC has started a new web site to help folk who are on unpaid work experience of as the Americans call it interns, a phrase that is getting used more and more here in the UK and somehow gives the idea of working for free some credence.

My own union BECTU has been very pro-active in this area as unpaid posts are prevalent in the media industry. "If you a job you are going to have to work for free so we can see if you are any good. If you are we might offer you a job...."

BECTU – fighting exploitation in the audio-visual industries
BECTU is the union that represents people working in film, TV and other audio-visual industries.  This industry is rife with unpaid work.  BECTU believe that 1 in 6 of their members is working for no pay, and they have been campaigning against the exploitation of unpaid work. In November 2009, film worker Nicola Vetta, with BECTU’s support, won a very significant Employment Tribunal case against London Dreams Motions Pictures Ltd over non-payment.

Even though there are strict regulations on this practice they don't seem to being adhered to.

Now we all sometimes need to offer a 'lost leader' to get a foot on the ladder but consider it very carefully as a business decision. Think of it as an investment. Will I get a return on this investment of my time and effort? Weigh this against your "worth".  By working for nothing you are devaluing yourself by saying you are not worth being paid anything for your services.

So if you are starting out, or changing sectors, do go and study this web site so you enter into an internship with your eyes wide open knowing what you are letting yourself in for and most importantly what your rights are.