By Lucy Caulkett-
Jeremy Corbyn’s insistence to his MPS not to employ unpaid interns raises important questions about the ethics and principles about the idea. Corbyn’s request came after Umunna circulated an advert for university students to work free at his office.
The advertising for a year in industry student placement was circulated to students at Leeds University, listed duties such as “administrative support”, organising “a wide variety of policy issues and constituent enquiries” and “EU campaign work” .
It emerged advertising placement was unpaid but the cost of a student travel card – worth about £1,000 a year – will be covered.
The former shadow business secretary, who was once a Labour leadership contender was searching for a student to carry out research, casework and office admin. Umanna faced criticism given Labour’s 2017 election manifesto to outlaw unpaid internships. “It’s not fair for some to get a leg up when others can’t afford to.”
The intern ad looking for a student willing to take a year out from their degree to work in Westminster was circulated around universities. After a student who saw the ad said he was shocked to see Mr Umunna looking for someone to work unpaid for so long.
Under Under criticism: Chuka Umunna
He said: “A summer is understandable but anything more is prohibitive for poorer students.
“Not only that – but it contradicts the Labour manifesto on banning unpaid internships.”
Mr Umunna defended the ad and insisted the successful applicant would be financially supported through student finance.
ENTHUSIASTIC
The advert said: “Chuka Umunna is seeking an enthusiastic placement student to join his London-based office.”
The duties listed include researching “a wide variety of policy issues and constituent enquiries”, working on the anti-Brexit campaign, organising events and “administrative support”.
But the ad makes clear the 12-month “year in industry placement” is unpaid, save for “transport costs and maybe some additional expenses”.
“The scheme, and others like it, are run collaboratively by MPs and universities, and gives students supported work experience as part of their university degree.
“In addition to the student finance students receive while undertaking a placement, as detailed in the advert, my office will reimburse travel expenses for a student travel card to minimise expenses.
‘I do not and would not offer a long-term placement where a student is not supported and left financially penalised.
“Unfortunately, (MPs’ expenses body) IPSA do not provide additional resources for MPs to recruit interns on a paid basis, though the Parliamentary Labour Party has always argued strongly for them to do so.”
LOOPHOLE
Tanya de Grunwald, founder of the Graduate Fog website and a campaigner for fair internships, said: “Rightly or wrongly, there is a loophole in the minimum wage law which means students need not be paid when doing a ‘Year in Industry’ placement as credit for their university course. So, legally Chuka has not done anything wrong.
“However, big ethical questions remain. Is it right that this person won’t be paid, when they will clearly bring great value to his office? Is it okay that someone else being denied this as a paid job, because Chuka can fill it with an unpaid student?
“And why are students paying university tuition fees in order to be sent out to work for free?”
Grudmund has a point here because if students pay tuition fees, there is no reason they should not be paid for internships. Corbyn is right on this issue, and deserves praise for raising it. The principle of paying students for internships is one that should be applied across the board among Mp’s and all organisations that take in interns.