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Workers urged to share experiences of unpaid trial shifts

Workers across the country have been urged to share their experiences of unpaid trial shifts ahead of an SNP MP’s bill to end the exploitative practice.

Stewart McDonald MP, the SNP MP for Glasgow South, will present the Unpaid Trial Work Periods (Prohibition) Bill in Parliament on March 16th, and has asked people to give their views on the practice.

Trial shifts entail working for free, in order to secure a job, and are common practice in the UK.

Commenting Stewart McDonald MP said:

“All work should be paid fairly and properly, which is why the practice of exploitative, unpaid trial shifts must come to an end.

“If people are going to be offered a trial period, where they apply their skills in the hope of securing a job, then they should be paid for their work during that period – whether or not a full offer of employment is made.

“The responses will help inform the legislation, and the work I’ll be undertaking with trade unions, employers, and MPs across parties, to ensure the law protects those seeking a job from exploitation.”

You can share your experiences by emailing stewart.mcdonald.mp@parliament.uk or Tweeting @StewartMcDonald.