#WorkTrialsOnTrial

MP calls on Prime Minister to end exploitative employment practices

Stewart McDonald MP has urged the Prime Minister to use her conference speech to call for an end to unpaid work trials.

Following the UK Government's announcement that restaurants will be legally barred from keeping tips, Stewart McDonald MP said the Prime Minister must now go one step further on worker's rights and ban unpaid work trials.

Commenting, the MP for Glasgow South said:

“New legislation that would see bars and restaurants in the UK being banned from taking a cut out of tips is long overdue, however more must be done to help workers – particularly the lowest paid.

“The Prime Minister has said her Government will push to end exploitative employment practices, but we have heard nothing from the Tories on the unfair practice that is unpaid work trials.

“Despite trying to re-brand as the party of the worker, too many people are still being forced to work for hours, days, or even weeks without any pay, or any guarantee of a job at the end of it. That is clearly unacceptable.

"A fair day’s work deserves a fair day's pay and all people want is to be treated with respect. There is huge public support for a ban on unpaid trial shifts – something that I have campaigned on and was the topic of my Private Members Bill, which was talked out by the Tories earlier this year. I therefore urge the Prime Minister to make good on her words, back my position and pledge to end these exploitative trials.”