We should strip RIBA awards from practices that exploit interns

摘要

From January 1, 2018 RIBA chartered practices in the UK will be required to pay at least the living wage, as defined by the Living Wage Foundation, to all staff, including freelance staff and students. The current living wage is £8.75 an hour, rising to £10.20 in London. This equates to £17,062.50 pa (£19,890 pa in London) assuming a 37.5- hour working week. I am in wholehearted agreement with the RIBA on this issue. Unpaid work (and I am not referring to a fortnight's work experience during your studies) is not an internship, it is a form of modern slavery - albeit one with a veneer of white-collar respectability - and it is not OK. Unpaid work is not a privilege, a "marvellous opportunity" or "good for your CV" - it is exploitation, and an abuse of power and position on the part of the practice.