Literature Review ii
'Join the fight against unpaid internships'
Libby Page’s article argues a very valid point, as well as
highlighting that ‘unless students refuse to work for free, employers will
continue to exploit them’, she also states that ‘If she were personally to take
on unpaid work now, she would be very aware that,
by doing so, she is saying that she doesn’t deserve a wage’.
Libby stated that initially ‘a big step for her was
finding the confidence to value herself enough to warrant a wage. Although we
all feel grateful for experiences gained within companies, we shouldn't
underestimate the work we do there, or what we have to offer’.
I thought this concept was very interesting, that 1 word 'deserve',
de·serve
/dəˈzərv/
Verb
| |
Synonyms
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Why do interns, generically speaking place themselves in this unworthy, undeserving box? I guess the answer is - 'because if I don't someone else will'. Throughout my inquiry this is the most common answer I hear repeatedly. I truly believe the only way the unpaid internship epidemic can be cured is if the government put into place the illegality measures to ensre internships can be carried out as fair practice for all involved.
Libby also points out that ‘students and graduates need to
stand firm on this issue. We may not have the benefit of paid employment, but
we do have voices, and we should be using them’. I completely understand Libby’s take on this,
but I also think it depends on the industry you are in. Personally, I have my
internships to thank for where I am today.
Using this and knowing the nature of my industry, I would not want to jeopordise
anything to detriment to my success, but on the other hand I do appreciate
unless more people fight for the interns justice then – in theory we are
fighting a losing battle. Is this why so many people are worried about speaking out?
"Fundamentally, we need to stop the practice of
unpaid internships, and stand up for all those who feel forced to work for free,
as well as those who are not able do so.”
As this article was published Labour MP Hazel
Blears won a vote to bring forward a bill to outlaw the advertisement of unpaid internships.
As it stands currently, although it is not widely known
(especially by the past and current inters I have interviewed for my inquiry) ‘under
minimum wage legislation, everyone who works, including interns, are entitled
to the national rate, currently £6.19 an hour for those aged 21 and over. But
unpaid internships are still endemic in many industries’ – this is escalated
due to companies having the ability to currently still legally advertise them,
as Gus Baker co-founder of Intern Aware
states,
"This bill not only raises the profile of the issue,
but would give the government the power to prosecute companies who advertise
illegal unpaid internships."
