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<p>This Government is absolutely clear: exploitation of interns is unacceptable and
we don’t hesitate to act where we find that employment law has been broken and someone
who is entitled to the minimum wage hasn’t been paid it.</p><p> </p><p>Complaints
from interns about non-payment of the minimum wage are prioritised by HMRC for investigation
and HMRC will investigate every complaint made to the Pay and Work Rights Helpline.</p><p>
</p><p>Research shows that internships and work experience programmes can be valuable
opportunities for young people taking their first steps in the labour market. Our
work on interns and the National Minimum Wage aims to achieve the right balance between
ensuring that opportunities for young people are not cut off and minimising the risk
of exploitation.</p><p> </p><p>Our concern, if we were to prohibit unpaid internships,
is that this may lead to employers recruiting interns through informal and privileged
networks with adverse effects on social mobility or have adverse consequences on the
number of available opportunities.</p><p> </p><p>There is no definition of an internship
in minimum wage legislation and interns are considered in the same way as everyone
else with regards to whether the minimum wage is due. The key issue is whether or
not they are workers as defined by minimum wage legislation. If they are, then they
are eligible for the minimum wage unless a specific exemption applies. Volunteers
are not workers and are not eligible for the minimum wage.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>
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