Petitions/Review enforcement of employment law for unpaid internships
StatusClosed
Opened13 May 2025
Closes13 Nov 2025
Government response
Parliamentary debateNot eligible
Milestones

I would like the Government to review how employment rights are enforced for interns to ensure all those carrying out work are being paid at least the minimum wage. I think this would promote fairer, more inclusive employment practices.

There are reports that some industries, especially fashion, media, and PR, rely on unpaid or low-paid interns. From personal experience in fashion PR, these roles are essential for gaining insight and building a career, but they often come at a personal financial cost. This creates a barrier for talented people from less privileged backgrounds who can’t afford to work for free. I believe fair pay would promote social mobility and boost the economy, as paid interns would increase local spending.

10,000
100,000

Constituency engagement ranking

Nadia Whittome
1Nadia Whittome MP
Nottingham East
3
Gareth Bacon
2Gareth Bacon MP
Orpington
3
Priti Patel
3Priti Patel MP
Witham
3
Dawn Butler
4Dawn Butler MP
Brent East
2
Claire Coutinho
5Claire Coutinho MP
East Surrey
2
Sir Roger Gale
6Sir Roger Gale MP
Herne Bay and Sandwich
2
Greg Smith
7Greg Smith MP
Mid Buckinghamshire
2
Uma Kumaran
8Uma Kumaran MP
Stratford and Bow
2
Irene Campbell
9Irene Campbell MP
North Ayrshire and Arran
2
Christine Jardine
10Christine Jardine MP
Edinburgh West
2
Review enforcement of employment law for unpaid internships — Petitions