Call For New Training Wage 

Guaranteed minimum for students a good idea says Swindon's HR Dept

 

With recently graduated students beginning internships all over the UK to gain experience with potential employers in their field of study, Swindon-based employment specialist the HR Dept has joined calls for the introduction of a new ‘Training Wage’.

 

Research by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) shows that over a third of internships are currently unpaid, with a loophole in national minimum wage legislation creating confusion over whether interns should be paid.

 

The CIPD is now calling for a £2.50 per hour guaranteed minimum training wage, in line with current minimum rates of pay for apprentices.

 

However Peter Jones, Director of the HR Dept Swindon, doesn’t feel the move goes far enough.

 

“We believe the minimum wage should mean the minimum amount an employee is paid, whether they are gaining experience or not. Like all employees they still have to afford to get to work, buy clothes and eat! However £2.50 an hour is still better than some graduates not getting paid at all."

 

Peter Jones HR Dept. Swindon

Research conducted by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation found that a single person needs to earn at least £14,000 per year to be able to afford a minimum socially acceptable standard of living.

 

Peter Jones suggests employers “remember that interns are potential employees and whilst they are providing students with valuable practical experience, they are in return getting a recruit who wants to work in their industry and so is keen to learn.

 

"Internships also promote the opportunities within their firms to students. If the intern is later hired they will understand the company and at least some of the job they will be doing. When all is taken into account, paying a living wage seems only fair.”

 

The HR Dept Swindon specialise in advising small and medium sized businesses on all employment and HR issues.

 

More information via the link below.