Young workers are exploited

We can relate to Mary's story, my son is in his second year at College and his 3rd year with his employer as a apprentice joiner. He has had one wage rise from starting with his employer.
We also got in touch with CITB & the College and no one could help, someone has to look into this and speak up for these young people.
He works 41.5 hours per week and is getting paid £3.14 per hour and will be 19 years old soon.

Im 18, studied joinery for 2 years in college and have now moved to sweden, before I moved I got working with a small firm for 3 months for free... just to get some experience because I felt wholeheartedly for joinery! my boss soon changed that, I was fine workin for free but when he took a circular saw to a bunch of aspestos above my head without telling me when I was working over my christimas holidays on his house extension for free I quit... now as you can imagine im pretty worried about going back into work.. I loved joinery, even when working for free but they take too much advantage of young people, I dont want to be in danger just because some guy doesnt see me as a human... =/

I also feel like I am treated badly as I am a 2nd year apprentice joiner and I get payed £20 a week of my boss.
And the goverment pay me £80 a week.
So I work 4 days for free because the goverment pay for it and he pays me £20 to go to college.

I am an apprentice and I would say the same as above .....CITB are no help at all.

this subject realy does anoi me. I personally am 19, I have a 2 bedroomed flat costing in total £500 a month, I work part time at a shop, and get £5.96ph because im 19, however someone who is 21 gets paid 6.50ph.......how is this fair, when I do the same job they do. some would argue that they need the money more, but why would they, when there car insurance is cheaper and there mortgage is cheaper than my rent, surely I should be paid more because I need it, I believe you should be paid a fized amount based on your circumstances. the average 19 year old lives with mummy and daddy and wold simply spend their money on bits for their car and alcohol, when im just trying to pay for somewhere to live. sadly because I dont get the 6.50ph I cant live in my flat, because I fall just a little short from being paid 5.96ph. is it really fair??? Cirsumstances...Not just you AGE!!!!!!

All office jobs start on the admin super highway until you've been there long enough to get moved up the ranks then it just seems to be the more money you make the more stress you get with the slight advantage of affording a holiday every year. The end

Your son should consider starting his own business after he has learnt the necessary skills. Perhaps this will make him a fair boss to work for in the future. Too many people rely on these small dirty firms. I bet your son has more talent than this entire firm.

I thought that's what young people are for, exploitation? It's all part of the learning process for sure. It happened to me and it's no different for the youth of today.

Perhaps the way young workers are treated is why so many people grow up to be on benefits - the experiences of working life while still young and impressionable is enough to put some people off working for life. Not that I'm condoning a choice to live on benefits, but being treated like dogs or slaves early on is bound to make an unemployed life look tempting...

Oh course the young are exploited. The sooner they learn the better. The lesson; all workers in a capitalist economy are exploited. The living wage is simply one to allow you to feed yourself to enable you to turn up to work and not die at your desk, by your machine whatever. The next time someone tries to sell me coffee or tea from a fairtrade farm I will give them a piece of my mind. I will have fairtrade only when we have fairtrade for our labour here.

The young are exploited by employers, where I work people under 22 are expected to do exactly the same job, with the same hours etc for the under 22 minimum wage, whilst those over 22 get the minimum wage, how can that be fair?

Huh, young people and their parents should have to pay the employer for their apprenticeships, and get no pay in return. They should all be expected to work 45 hours a week and attend further 15 hours per week evening classes. No time for football on Saturday. And go to church on Sunday.

The slump will bring this new kind of slavery into reality. People will have to work for nothing or only token goods and some food in exchange for their labour.