The role of minimum wage law in delivering social protections for interns in the United Kingdom

Abstract

The focus of attention on internships in the United Kingdom has broadly been on the issue of pay, and on seeking an end to unpaid internships, given the evident risk of exploitation and exclusion of those from less privileged backgrounds. Less attention has been paid to access to social protections for interns.

Unpaid internships not only undermine labour protections but also lead to exclusion from social protections. This is because the absence of earnings results in a loss of potential contributions to the social security system and of the opportunity to build up protections over time.

Young people undertaking internships may face specific challenges in accessing paid internships and asserting their rights. The considerable underlying inequalities and barriers that some young people experience in their transition from education to work are unlikely to be addressed by one measure alone. However, given the link between earnings and social protection eligibility, effective enforcement of the minimum wage has an important role to play in securing improved rights for interns in the United Kingdom.