'Boycott Tesco' call after job is advertised on benefits

Permanent job ad was an error – but it highlights the controversy over 'work for your benefits' programme

LAST UPDATED AT 10:41 ON Thu 16 Feb 2012

FOLLOWING a storm of protest on Twitter, Tesco has announced that an advert for a permanent job offered on the basis of 'Job Seeker's Allowance place expenses' was an error. The advertisement should have made clear that it was a short-term work experience position with a guaranteed job interview at the end of it.

The Job Centre Plus online advert was for a night shift role at Tesco's East Anglia IP32 location – the superstore at Bury St Edmunds. Hours were to be confirmed and under 'pension details' is stated: 'No details held'. Crucially, it said the job was 'permanent'.

Reaction was fast and furious on Twitter. One user wrote: "I will not buy another item from you until you abandon workfare slavery. I'll tell all I know as well."

Another threatening to boycott Tesco's said: "Sorry guys, but it's pure greed and exploitation - no excuse for it."

The explanation that it was an error will pacify some but not all the complainants. Many believe that the government's controversial 'work-for-your benefits' programme is misguided and allows employers to take advantage of 'slave labour'.

Many supermarkets and fast food chains - including Asda, Primark, McDonald's and the Arcadia group (owners of Topshop) as well as Tesco - have benefited from the programme.

However, Sainsbury's and Waterstones both announced last week they were pulling of the scheme because of bad feeling among customers. Will Tesco's now follow suit? · 

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Submitted by john smith on February 16, 2012 - 10:45am.
i have had three jobs that are upaid, one was over xmas and the store i worked in  has no interest in give me a job or a job interview, i already do a volunteer job that i found myself but the jobcentre plus say i have to work a 5 day 40 hours a week for £60 when a friend that work 20 hours a week is getting over £80 a week. people how say this is fair  should try it.
Submitted by Mike Manchester on February 16, 2012 - 12:46pm.
There is quite a bit of truth in this story even if Tesco are trying to
backtrack now. A friend of mine was on JSA, and as part of this, he went
to work for tesco for a period of 1 month, unpaid, at 35 hours a week.
At the end of the month, the manager, seemingly pleased with the work he
had done, asked my friend if he would like to stay on for another few
months. When my friend asked if this would be paid, the manager laughed,
and said "why would we pay you when there are hundreds of people we
could get to do it for free??". 

So there you have it. I have no
doubt that if there wasn't a minimum wage, Tesco would currently be
employing people at 20p an hour if they could get away with it.
Submitted by Postmaster on February 16, 2012 - 12:58pm.
As my old English teacher would have sais, "Tesco's what?"
Submitted by uptoeleven on February 16, 2012 - 2:09pm.
We have a minimum wage in this country why on earth is it not being enforced? And how much effort would it take for companies to offer these "work placements" at minimum wage with the government covering the JSA and the company making up the rest? Is humanity and decency beyond the wit of man? Or just beyond the wit of Tesco?
Submitted by Mck Andy on February 16, 2012 - 2:59pm.
there's another solution..... stop the benefits all together! You don't work, you don't eat! As it was and always should be.
Submitted by Csparkstps on February 16, 2012 - 3:42pm.
I hope you die of cancer
Submitted by gogogob on February 17, 2012 - 10:29am.
European Convention on Human Rights:-
Art. 4.2 "No one shall be required to perform forced or compulsory labour"
except...4.3.(d) "any work or service which forms part of normal civic obligations"
Art. 14. "The enjoyment of the rights and freedoms set forth in this Convention shall be secured without discrimination on any ground... , property, ..."
JSA is means tested after six months...
Submitted by guest on February 17, 2012 - 3:22pm.
dick
Submitted by Ginette on February 17, 2012 - 4:39pm.
yeah, thats fair for people who have been lost their job. Or how about a friend of mine who spent two years furiously job hunting? Ive been job hunting for 2 months since losing my last job and i've had no luck. Sent CVs out left, right and centre. the one interview i've had i couldn't get the job as i cannot drive. Its not that easy to get a job, so take your stupid ideas elsewhere. thank god you aren't running the country.
Submitted by Smartey30 on February 21, 2012 - 10:30am.
Boycott Tesco for using slave labour , they make more than enough profit , what is our society coming to when we let big business get away with con tricks like this. such an easy equation , Politicians look after big business = big business looking after Politicians , look at who the ex MP's work for once their out of office picking up huge salaries , were all being ripped off , time to vote with our feet and our wallets people

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