Fast-food chain Burger King has become the latest commercial property firm to pull out of the Government’s controversial work experience scheme for unemployed people.
The commercial property company said it decided to withdraw its participation in the Get Britain Working Programme because of recent concerns expressed by the public.
The scheme has attracted increasing criticism in recent weeks with critics labelling it as a form of “slave labour” because young people work for nothing, while keeping their benefits. The Government said those who are protesting against it should think carefully about the consequences of their actions.
Commercial property firm Burger King said it had registered for the voluntary programme six weeks ago planning to take on youngsters for work experience at its Slough headquarters, but had not enlisted anyone since.
“Given the recent concerns expressed by the public we have decided to no longer have any involvement in the programme,” the commercial property company said in a statement.
Applicants continue to receive jobseekers allowance (JSA) and may be given a contribution to travel or childcare costs. On the other hand any person who cuts a placement short after more than a week may have their benefits stopped for two weeks.
Elsewhere, supermarket giant Sainsbury’s said the small number of its commercial property stores that took part in the scheme had since ceased involvement, as it was not company policy.
Commercial property retail giant Poundland has also withdrawn from the scheme after reportedly voicing similar concerns about its mandatory element.
Fashion chain Matalan said it postponed its involvement pending a review and book seller Waterstones and electrical commercial property retailer Maplin have already left.
However Employment Minister Chris Grayling has defended the work experience scheme, saying that up to 300 of the young people taking part in the programme, which has been in effect for 11 weeks had now found work, often with commercial property companies that placed them on work experience.
He said that offering youngsters work experience, with the chance of a job at the end, was better than “simply leaving them” on benefits.
He further added: “I don’t accept that the scale of the campaign is very large, it’s a small number of activists who are deliberately targeting these companies and trying to destabilise them.”
George Eustice, Conservative MP said commercial property companies considering leaving the scheme must not bow to public pressure. He said: “The truth is that the first step to getting a job and getting back into the jobs market is having some work experience and learning to work and turning up for work on time and being part of a relied on team.”
He further added: “And so I think this scheme’s incredibly important. It’s only for a few weeks. It’s not slave labour or anything like that and I think that if it’s work…you do need them to show commitment.”
The scheme is targeted at 16-to 24- years-olds who are out of work for more than three months, but less than nine. Participants have a voluntary placement for two to eight weeks, working 25 to 30 hours a week.
