I previously thought these trial schemes might be good, perhaps give people who (for whatever reason) couldn't get by the interview stage the chance to show what they could do.

However my 19 year old cousin has just finished a 6 month work trial doing childcare with a company who are big business in after school care locally. She excelled, the reference she's been given by her line manager is fantastic and she's been asked to be on a 'bank' for anytime they are short staffed (and is currently covering sick leave for them). She hasn't however been offered a permanant job because they've another 'work triallist' starting in the next few weeks and there was never any chance of her getting the job because the management won't allow a full time paid post to be taken when they can enter this workscheme.

Further more she's been told (unofficially) by someone she was interviewed by in the last week that one of their interview panel couldn't understand why, if she was so good, they didn't take her on when they know they are getting someone else in. So her work trial might actually hinder, rather than help, her with future applications.

Her advisor is going to look into it for her because companies shouldn't be allowed to have continual 'triallists' if they have no intention of actually giving them a job.

Though I must say even unpaid work in the community is just really the same thing because if that work needs doing a wage should be paid for the work.

Unpaid work anywhere in the community or at Tesco's just increases unemployment (and so reduces tax and NI revenue) because all Tesco's or councils will do is employ fewer people as they know they can get a few unpaid shelf stacker's/street cleaners each 8 weeks.

My friend works for tesco and this explains why the overtime she was promised has been taken away

Which means if she pays tax will pay less of it and both she and Tesco's will pay less NI contributions. So she is not the only one to lose out. We all do because her increased contribution to the economy she would have given by the overtime has vanished.

i saw this on an LFC forum i use.
it s disgusting and means the companies have no need to recruit as they have an unlimited supply of free labour. why pay minimum wage when they can pay sweet FA

IF this scheme needs to be in force, why not supply small/failing local business or community projects for 10 hours a week instead. these multi multi billiion pound companies do not need FREE LABOUR.

terrible.

This sounds very familiar. Go back 22 years to when I was 17. I "had" to go on a YTS scheme in 1989. I got an office job in a new company, I was the only person in the office to "answer the phone and type a few invoices" because it was a showroom type environment. I earned £29.50 for a 51 hour a week (I didn't get a lunch hour because I was alone in the office and I worked Saturdays for an extra tenner). This wage went up to £45 once I turned 18. After my YTS had ended my boss gave me an extra £5 a week and told me he would be getting me another YTS to help me out as we were getting busier. To cut a long story short after a few months of the YTS' arrival I was out of a job, she was only 17 so earning £29.50 and the whole process of cheap labour started again. I learned after a year or so my ex boss did the same to her as soon as the scheme ended for her and there was not a thing we could do about it, it was a massive flaw in the YTS scheme.

I did YTS and got a part time job out of it that became full time

You all scoffed at, indeed attacked and insulted Damo when he brought this to your attentions last year.

Asda have been doing the same for at least two years.

The Modern Apprenticeship scheme is nothing less than a pi[is[/is-take. When major corporations are taking on "apprentices" aged 50 years +, at less than minimum wage. B&Q shout loud about their apprenticeship scheme, FFS how long does it take someone to learn "it's down that aisle over there" or "if it's not on the shelf, we ain't got it"?

If it transpires there is this perceived abuse of "free labour" by such companies then the government should be held to account. I would imagine that there will not by wholseale abuse by Tesco, et al because if there is their business will suffer. They are already a target for long-haired "activists" and are starting to get out-competed by Asda. They won't want bad publicity. Like I said, most of these schemes are a pain in the backside from an employers perspective and so most small 'ers steer well clear. It's therefore up to the bigger, labour intensive 'ers not requiring high skills to come to the rescue. As I said, what do you propose as the alternative - just let the kids sit at home and rot?

As to the comment that people don't want to work hard for minimum wages - well that sadly sums up modern Britain. We see lots of eductated people from Poland, et al coming here and doing just that and through hard work getting on and progressing. Sadly, too many people here have no pride. If you are not prepared to do your best in any job, whatever the pay, you damn well not going to be worth employing on a high salary. At the end of the day personal motivation and pride are key attributes to any good employee or decent human being. If you ain't got then you ain't got anything to give.

Pity then the likes of Tesco don't feel the same way about [url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/apr/13/tesco-revives-jersey-vat-avoidanceavoiding UK VAT[/url or even [url=http://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2008/06/01/tescos-the-zug-deal-is-tax-avoidance/avoiding corporation tax[/url

Every little helps eh?