28 June 2010 Last updated at 08:42 ET

Should you be paid for work experience?

By Kevin Peachey Personal finance reporter, BBC News

Mark Prisk started his work experience at a electronics firm

On a website about internships, one Masters graduate from Durham claims that her work experience included collecting her boss's dry cleaning and booking his holiday.

You would not expect Business and Enterprise Minister Mark Prisk to be doing anything similar during his week of work experience with small businesses - although he is expecting to make the tea.

Mr Prisk claims that it is "important to get out of the ivory tower at Westminster" and "gets his hands dirty" during days at five different firms.

His first day was at DIY Kyoto, a London-based business that makes wireless electricity meters.

Calls to the firm revealed that he had been in meetings during his first morning and was having his photo taken later.

This is a working day far removed from the experience of many youngsters who spend their placements kicking their heels or daydreaming at the photocopier.

There are fears that employers could take advantage. The TUC has accused some employers of ignorance, and other of "ripping people off".

So should interns be paid for their efforts?

'Hurdles'

One survey published this week has found that 80% of young adults believe they face barriers to getting into their chosen career.

Although 81% of the 1,003 people surveyed had been on an occupational placement, 44% said this was not relevant to their future career.

NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE

• £5.80 an hour for workers aged 21 and over
• £4.83 an hour for workers aged 18 to 20
• £3.57 an hour for those aged 16 or 17
• This will increase by 2% in October
• An apprentice minimum rate of £2.50 an hour will also be introduced in October

David Morley, senior partner at legal firm Allen and Overy, which conducted the survey, says that work experience is "crucial" and helps in young people's job aspirations.

The search for the dream job means that some are exploited during work experience, according to campaigners.

While a week's placement after sitting GCSEs may not merit a wage, they say that many interns do deserve to be paid for the work they do.

Interns can work for months after graduating, in order to gain the skills that would attract employers and to make contacts.

Extended work experience has been common in the arts and media industries and is becoming more popular in IT and engineering.

Guidance

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has issued guidance to employers having been concerned that they are breaking laws by failing to pay interns.

Graduates tend to carry out the longest periods of work experience

It says that the rules on the national minimum wage are not clear enough with regards to interns.

Someone should be paid if they are doing genuine and productive work, but not if they are classified as a volunteer - when they are able to choose their hours and be absent when they wish.

Now the CIPD has called for a compromise - by setting a training wage at £2.50 an hour. This would be paid to interns to bring them in line with the minimum wage for apprentices.

It says that a third of interns are unpaid, but some of the best employers pay well over this rate.

"We believe that the introduction of this training wage would reflect the contribution that interns make to their organisations, which is likely to be less than that of a fully-trained member of staff," he says.

"At the same time it avoids concerns over reductions in the number of internship opportunities that may result from all interns being paid the full minimum wage."

He adds that the move would encourage those from poorer backgrounds to apply for internships. The rate could be varied depending on living and transport costs in the area of work.

Consideration should also be paid to the idea of sick pay for interns, who currently have no right to it, he says.

When asked about the proposal, Mr Prisk said that it could add an extra layer of bureaucracy for small business if this became statutory legislation. One wonders whether his views will change if he is stretched to the limit during his work experience this week.

We asked you if you think interns should be paid. Here is a selection of your comments.

I finished a PhD in physics in 2008 but decided not to pursue a career in research and to look for jobs in sustainability and renewable energy. I had hoped that my scientific background and transferable skills would make up for the lack of direct experience in the area, but I was wrong and ended up temping in office jobs for 18 months. I came across an internship in the right area earlier this year, but the expenses offered simply weren't enough to cover my basic needs. It covered my rent and bills and nothing else. I found another internship which paid me more, but still less than minimum wage and only just enough to survive on. I could have earned 50% more doing temporary admin jobs, but in order to get a contract in the area I wanted I had to survive on peanuts and get myself into even more debt.

Matt W, Bristol, UK

I am currently an English intern living and working in New York and have to say it has been a struggle at times but we generally just about cope. We have our accommodation provided but have to cover our own expenses for bills and travel as well as normal living costs. We get around $900 a month to live off in one of the most expensive cities in the world - I feel worse off than when I was a student! I could never imagine trying to live back in London off £600 a month. Still, though, we do survive...

Ben Newbon, New York

I'm coming to the end of a 9 month internship, for my sandwich course at uni, in Paris and have been paid throughout. Of course placement students should be paid! Unless voluntary, every scope of work is paid, from a CEO right down to a paper-round after school. If people are wanting students to get the full experience of real life out of a placement, then that should include getting a salary. This also helps with budgeting and gives students an idea of what life will cost in the future so it does not come as a big shock when they leave university.

Dom Mottram, Paris, France

I am currently taking part in a Psychology placement within the prison service. I receive no pay nor any money for expenses such as travel. I drive for an hour each way every day costing me around £40 in petrol a week. Plus, as I don't get paid for my placement I have to work part time at Sainsburys, often meaning I have to work 7 day weeks. I have been at my placement now for 9 months and still have a month left to go. I have a friend who studies business who is also currently on placement at BMW, she gets paid a full wage (around £13,000), how is it fair that people get treated so differently?

Sarah, Plymouth, UK