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#WorkTrialsOnTrial | UK Government must take a stand on exploited workers

#WorkTrialsOnTrial

UK Government must take a stand on exploited workers

Campaigning MP Stewart McDonald has said the UK government must take a stand on exploited workers, and support his Bill to end unpaid trial shifts.

In Prime Minister’s Questions, the SNP MP said employers will sometimes use unpaid trial shifts to cover staff shortages – with no intention of offering employment.

Mr McDonald has put forward a Private Members’ Bill to bring to an end the common practice of employers offering unpaid shifts to people looking for work - with no guarantee of paid work at the end.

The MP has written to all Members of Parliament, calling for their support for the Bill, which will be debated in March 2018.

The Glasgow South MP’s Private Members’ Bill has been backed by the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC), the National Union of Students (NUS), the Better Than Zero campaign and the Daily Record.

A study by Middlesex University and Trust for London, Unpaid Britain (2017), estimates that workers are missing out on £1.2billion in wages - with unpaid trial shifts contributing towards this.

Stewart McDonald MP said:

“The Prime Minister’s response was not good enough – she needs to support my campaign and her government needs to back my Bill to stop workers being exploited.

“Unpaid trial shifts are common practice across the UK. However, they are exploitative and take unfair advantage of people genuinely seeking work.

“Over the Christmas period, it is ­increasingly likely you’ll be served in a shop or a restaurant by someone working an unpaid trial shift.

“The private member’s Bill I have brought forward has received the support of the STUC, NUS, and the Better than Zero campaign – who are to be commended for the excellent work they have done in documenting and challenging exploitative work practices in different industries.

“All work should be paid fairly and properly, which is why the practice of exploitative, unpaid trial shifts must come to a long overdue end.”Parliament logo

@StewartMcDonald on Twitter

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