Infozone: the briefing – 19/03/10

NO ‘GIVEAWAY' IN BUDGET, WARNS CHANCELLOR

Chancellor Alistair Darling has pledged to keep spending money to support the economy and keep people in jobs, but he has said there will be no "giveaway" in the Budget on 24 March.

However, the chancellor said increases in national insurance contributions, which were announced in the pre-Budget report, mean further tax rises will not be needed.

INTERNS BEING EXPLOITED, SAYS TUC

Employers are exploiting thousands of young interns by getting them to work for free, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has warned. With about one-fifth of 16- to 24-year-olds unemployed, increasing numbers of graduates are taking unpaid internships or extended work experience programmes.

Paul Sellers, policy officer at the TUC, said some employers were ignorant of the minimum wage legislation, while others are just "ripping people off".

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) said it took the exploitation of young workers seriously and said anyone who did have concerns should report them as soon as possible.

EQUALITY WATCHDOG TO INVESTIGATE ‘POLISH-SPEAKING' JOBS

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has launched an investigation after newspaper claims that British workers were refused jobs at a meat factory supplying Asda because they did not speak Polish. It was alleged that Forza AW would only hire workers for its production line in East Anglia if they spoke Polish fluently.

The company said the stipulation in the job advert had been made in error and that it trained employees in whatever language they speak. The equality watchdog has said it will write to Forza about the allegations.