77
The Guardian recently revealed government lawyers had advised Department of Business ministers that "most interns are likely to be workers and therefore entitled to the [national minimum wage] and other worker rights". An HMRC source told the Guardian it would be targeting a range of firms, from the multinationals to the smallest design company. "If you are in that industry and you have interns, there's no reason to think that we won't be knocking on your door," they said. The source also said the campaign was aware of the sensitivities about approaching interns themselves who may fear being "blacklisted" in later employment. "We do appreciate that we might not want to walk up to an intern and ask, 'Are they paying you?' "Obviously by the time we leave, life might not be so great for the intern at that place. We are aware that there is a sensitivity there." The source added that the team would have the power to "look at whatever they need to look at to assure themselves that the people who are working there are getting paid what they are due". Rachel Johnson, editor of lifestyle and fashion magazine The Lady, said her interns only come for a week and they are offered expenses and lunch money, and that anyone who is asked to stay on for longer is paid a wage. She said: "We don't have any long-term unpaid interns … because it is not fair on them. It is inequitable only to take on the children or young people of families who can afford to subsidise them. "It's unfair to those who cannot afford to work and not be paid … I think the whole new model economy of unpaid work is not a good one for entry-level employment at all." Tanya de Grunwald, founder of website Graduate Fog and who is running a name and shame campaign called Pay Your Interns, said: "I am pleased to see HMRC at last taking the illegal internships issue seriously. "For over a year now, I and the other interns' rights campaigners have been complaining loudly that the existing reporting system – which requires exploited interns to blow the whistle on their own employer – was fatally flawed. "Unpaid Interns are desperate for experience and a reference so why would they report somebody they are trying to impress? "We told HMRC that the burden must be removed from the interns' shoulders. It seems that they have listened at last." She added: "HMRC is right in thinking that fashion is one of the worst industries for taking advantage of their young workers. "The thought of being spot-checked will have the fashion houses' lawyers shaking in their expensive shoes.“ http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2011/nov/17/hmrc-crackdown-fashion-unpaid-interns
ANALYSIS: THE GOVERNMENTS PROPOSED MEASURE TO HELP UNPAID INTERNS REPRESENTS A POSITIVE MOVEMENT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE STARTING OUT IN CREATIVE INDURTIES ESPECIALLY TO STOP THEM FROM BEING EXPLOITED.