This sounds very familiar. Go back 22 years to when I was 17. I "had" to go on a YTS scheme in 1989. I got an office job in a new company, I was the only person in the office to "answer the phone and type a few invoices" because it was a showroom type environment. I earned £29.50 for a 51 hour a week (I didn't get a lunch hour because I was alone in the office and I worked Saturdays for an extra tenner). This wage went up to £45 once I turned 18. After my YTS had ended my boss gave me an extra £5 a week and told me he would be getting me another YTS to help me out as we were getting busier. To cut a long story short after a few months of the YTS' arrival I was out of a job, she was only 17 so earning £29.50 and the whole process of cheap labour started again. I learned after a year or so my ex boss did the same to her as soon as the scheme ended for her and there was not a thing we could do about it, it was a massive flaw in the YTS scheme.

I did YTS and got a part time job out of it that became full time

You all scoffed at, indeed attacked and insulted Damo when he brought this to your attentions last year.

Asda have been doing the same for at least two years.

The Modern Apprenticeship scheme is nothing less than a piss-take. When major corporations are taking on "apprentices" aged 50 years +, at less than minimum wage. B&Q shout loud about their apprenticeship scheme, FFS how long does it take someone to learn "it's down that aisle over there" or "if it's not on the shelf, we ain't got it"?

If it transpires there is this perceived abuse of "free labour" by such companies then the government should be held to account. I would imagine that there will not by wholseale abuse by Tesco, et al because if there is their business will suffer. They are already a target for long-haired "activists" and are starting to get out-competed by Asda. They won't want bad publicity. Like I said, most of these schemes are a pain in the backside from an employers perspective and so most small 'ers steer well clear. It's therefore up to the bigger, labour intensive 'ers not requiring high skills to come to the rescue. As I said, what do you propose as the alternative - just let the kids sit at home and rot?

As to the comment that people don't want to work hard for minimum wages - well that sadly sums up modern Britain. We see lots of eductated people from Poland, et al coming here and doing just that and through hard work getting on and progressing. Sadly, too many people here have no pride. If you are not prepared to do your best in any job, whatever the pay, you damn well not going to be worth employing on a high salary. At the end of the day personal motivation and pride are key attributes to any good employee or decent human being. If you ain't got then you ain't got anything to give.

Dally wrote:If these corporations are truly being greedy (ie actually earning extra profits out of the arrangement) then they'll pay extra corporation tax, so my tax may be reduced. Pity then the likes of Tesco don't feel the same way about avoiding UK VAT or even avoiding corporation tax Every little helps eh?

Dally wrote:If these corporations are truly being greedy (ie actually earning extra profits out of the arrangement) then they'll pay extra corporation tax, so my tax may be reduced. Pity then the likes of Tesco don't feel the same way about avoiding UK VAT or even avoiding corporation tax Every little helps eh?

Why have I now suddenly got this vision of you in a previous life, strutting around your sugar or tobacco plantation, gazing fondly over your flock of mulattoes?

"Long-haired activists"?
What age are you living in?
You'll be calling them tree-huggers next.

Anyway, no-one is saying that people shouldn't be trained to do their job ... just don't call it "apprenticeships" whilst touting the figures to show how magnificently you are fine-honing the skills of the workforce.
Some of these so-called apprenticeships (most of them?) last mere weeks.


I hear motherhood and apple pie are quite nice too.

Helping big business surreptitiously is hardly new for this government.

Helping big business surreptitiously is hardly new for this government.

I want a job but can't get one, I will now stand even less chance than before as a job I could possibly get will now be given to someone that they don't need to pay.
Do you not understand this premise?
Some people are screaming out for work that they can't find, These jobs are clearly there or Tesco wouldn't be able to find work for these free jobs so why not employ folks who want to work for a proper wage?
Because they are greedy so-and-so's is why and the Government are bloody stupid or corrupt you decide.