Welfare Reform on the Web (January 2012): Minimum Wage - UK

UK fashion labels warned about unpaid interns

S. Malik

The Guardian, Dec. 9th 2011, p. 11

Some of the UK's biggest fashion labels were put on notice by HM Revenue & Customs that they could be prosecuted for not paying their interns. In a move welcomed by the Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, HMRC said it had written to all 102 fashion houses involved with September's London fashion week warning them about non-payment of the minimum wage of £6.08 an hour for those aged 21 and over. Companies that received letters included Mulberry, Paul Smith, Nicole Farhi and Burberry. Clegg said: 'I strongly urge fashion houses and designer labels to make sure they are treating interns fairly. Where an individual is entitled to the minimum wage they should receive it.'