Britain under fire over 'slave labour' work experience

Britain's government was accused this week of introducing "slave labour" through a scheme that can see unemployed youngsters lose their benefits if they quit a work experience placement.

The 10 -month voluntary programme, part of Prime Minister David Cameron's welfare reforms, is intended to help the record number of jobless youths improve their CVs and find work in a difficult economic climate.

But opponents say people who quit halfway through their placements are docked of unemployment benefits for two weeks as punishment -- and that the scheme allows major corporations to exploit a large pool of free labour.

The resulting furore has seen a number of big-name backers distance themselves from the scheme, including Tesco, the world's third-largest retailer, which was targeted by protests last weekend.

AFP