MPs Defy Calls to Pay Interns, Thousands Working for Free

Strategic Insights -

Hundreds of MPs are refusing to pay their interns, despite calls from critics to end the practice of hiring graduates for unpaid work placements. The move has led to accusations that politicians are breaking the law and stifling social mobility by excluding graduates from poorer backgrounds from getting jobs in certain professions. Critics say that MPs who advertise for unpaid interns are hypocrites, as they claim to support social mobility but refuse to pay their own staff a fair wage.

Key Takeaways:

  • 77% of interns reported being obliged to work set hours, which could be in breach of minimum wage legislation.
  • 28% of interns undertook tasks that they did not feel comfortable doing.
  • 2/3 of interns did not have their expenses covered.
  • The trade union Unite found that MPs have about 450 interns doing about 18,000 hours of unpaid work each week.
  • 15 MPs have five or more interns working in their office.
  • The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) urged the Government to introduce a £2.50 an hour minimum "training wage" for internships lasting for three months or longer.
  • One entry-level job in three is being taken by graduates who have already worked for a company in a work placement.
  • Interns Aware estimates that it costs £3,000 a person to undertake a placement with a London company.
  • Phil Willis, former Lib Dem MP, paid his interns the minimum wage and encouraged other MPs to do the same.

Statistics:

  • 450 interns working for MPs each week (Unite)
  • 18,000 hours of unpaid work by interns each week (Unite)
  • 15 MPs have five or more interns working in their office (Unite)
  • £2.50 an hour minimum "training wage" proposed by CIPD for internships lasting three months or longer
  • £3,000 a person the estimated cost of supporting an intern in London for three months (Interns Aware)
  • 28% of interns undertook tasks they did not feel comfortable doing

Sources:

  • Interns Anonymous, a website set up to support interns
  • Intern Aware, which campaigns to promote fair access to the internship system
  • The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)
  • Unite, the trade union
  • High Fliers, the graduate research company
  • Times Money reader Claire Jones
  • Sarah Teather, Lib Dem Minister for Education
  • Stella Creasy, Labour MP for Walthamstow
  • Phil Willis, former Lib Dem MP