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BBC Radio 5 Live

5 live Investigates

5 Live Investigates

Factual: Consumer

Adrian Goldberg presents cutting edge investigative journalism

Adrian Goldberg presents cutting edge investigative journalism, as well as taking on listeners' campaigns and consumer issues

5 Live Investigates: 10/10/2010

10/10/2010

BBC Radio 5 Live - 5 Live Investigates, 10/10/2010

Adrian Goldberg investigates alleged exploitation of unpaid interns by the public sector.

Exploitation, or valuable work experience? Adrian Goldberg investigates how government departments, councils and other public bodies are relying on unpaid interns for key roles.

Adrian Goldberg asks if the government is breaking the law by 'exploiting' unpaid interns. 5 live Investigates reveals the government departments, councils and other public bodies which are recruiting young people for internships which don't pay a penny.

One Home Office internship advertises an 'exciting opportunity to gain experience in an office based administration role'. The lucky candidate will help process student visa applications and as the ad says will have 'an increased level of responsibility' and 'be measured against quality targets'.

The programme speaks to one graduate who worked as an unpaid intern for five months in an admin role for a Primary Care Trust. She was even asked to help train managers to do staff appraisals. Adrian also hears from people who believe the use of unpaid interns is pure exploitation while others believe these work opportunities are a valuable stepping stone to getting a permanent job, while Universities Minister David Willetts tells us that nobody should be using people to do an unpaid job by calling it an 'internship'.

Also in the programme, a look at how a record number of holiday-makers to continental Europe have been reportedly ripped off by car hire companies. The UK European Consumer Centre says it has received 30 per cent more complaints about car hire scams in the first five months of this year compared to the same period last year.

We probe the world of money laundering, as Adrian Goldberg investigates why football clubs around the world are seen as perfect vehicles to launder dirty money.

And what do the bankers really think about the ordinary taxpayers who bailed them out? Mark Daly, from BBC Scotland's investigations unit, tells us about his latest documentary.

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10/10/2010

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