A local MP has vowed to crack down on workers being exploited through unpaid trial shifts.
Stewart McDonald, who represents the Glasgow South constituency that covers Castlemilk, Croftfoot and King’s Park, has criticised the UK government for last week ruling out legislation that would prevent unscrupulous employers from asking job applicants to work without any payment or guarantee of a job.
Mr McDonald previously introduced a Bill in 2018 seeking to end the practice of employers asking job applicants to work for hours, days, or even weeks without any payment or guarantee of a job.
The MP spoke out following the UK Government’s rejection of a public petition in the House of Commons that called for a ban on unpaid work trials.
Glasgow resident Ellen Reynolds had launched the petition to ban unpaid work trials after recently being asked to work five hours for free.
The practice is considered common in the hospitality industry, but an investigation by our sister paper the Daily Mirror found scores of workers across the UK felt they had been exploited, working for free in pursuit of jobs that never came.
Mr McDonald said: “The culture of unpaid work remains a scourge on society and the UK Government’s decision to rule out a ban on unpaid trial shifts will see this problem continue.
“I have long campaigned and even presented a Bill to ban unpaid work trials, and I still hear horror stories from people who are being asked to work hours unpaid, without knowing if they will even get the job – if there even is one available. It is clear the current guidance on unpaid trials not working.
“Whilst the Government acknowledges the prevalence of unpaid work trials, the current guidance does not go far enough.
“It is clear the UK Government think unpaid trial shifts should still be permitted, and, despite saying such trials should last no longer than one day, the guidance remains too vague in protecting workers should they fall victim to longer unpaid trials.
“I still believe the only way to fix the issue is an outright ban on unpaid work trials, and I urge the UK Government to urgently rethink and engage on the subject.
“Everyone should be paid fairly and properly for the work that they do, which is more important than ever in a post-COVID world and the recovery that goes with it.”
Speaking at the time that Ms Reynolds first started her petition, a government spokesperson stated: “It is already illegal to employ people on unpaid work trial periods for an excessive period of time, or where the trial is not part of a genuine recruitment process.
“If you are a worker you should be paid at least the minimum wage. Businesses that are found to be breaking the rules can face unlimited fines, disqualification of directors or being named and shamed.”
