Politicians in Glasgow have said firms should not be using unpaid trial shifts to recruit new staff.

The Glasgow Times reported this week how a student was left unsupervised in a clothes shop while the boss went out.

He was with another trialist and was on the first day of a three-day trial.

READ MORE: Unpaid work trial student left in charge of Glasgow clothes shop

Glasgow South SNP MP, Stewart McDonald tried to ban unpaid trial shifts but his Member’s Bill was blocked at Westminster.

Glasgow Times:

He said he would like to bring it back but there was little opportunity to do so.

Mr McDonald has continued to campaign for a ban and said he regularly gets young people telling him of having to do trial shifts and not being paid.

When his bill was blocked by the Conservatives at Westminster, he said: “The culture of unpaid work is a scourge on society and, the UK government must show its willingness to tackle this exploitative practice.

“Whilst the Tory government went out of its way to block previous legislation, there is a huge consensus across the country that unpaid trial shifts are pernicious and plainly unfair. Unpaid shifts serve as a blockage to those trying to find honest, paid work and must go.’’

After reading the Glasgow Times report this week, Labour, Conservative and Green MSPs in Glasgow also said people should be paid for work they do.

READ MORE: Stewart Paterson: Unpaid trial shifts in Glasgow are exploitation, pure and simple

Paul Sweeney, Glasgow MSP and Labour employment spokesman, said he has personal experience of unpaid trial shifts when a student.

Glasgow Times:

He said: “It is all part of the precarious work that is still a problem in the hospitality sector.

“Labour’s policy is to ban them. I backed Stewart McDonald’s Bill in the House of Commons. I support devolution of powers to enhance employment law.”

Annie Wells, Conservative, MSP, said: “This was clearly an unacceptable situation for any young person to be put in.

Glasgow Times:

“As we look to secure employment opportunities for young people, it is only right that they are paid a fair wage for any shift that they undertake. We would urge any company who still conduct unpaid trials to explore ways in which they can ensure they don’t happen in the future.”

Patrick Harvie, Greens co-leader and Glasgow MSP, said: “Leaving unpaid and untrained staff to run your business is not only bad practice it is dangerous and probably illegal.

Glasgow Times:

"I’m certain Glasgow City Council and the Health and Safety Executive would be keen to investigate any business that acted in this unacceptable fashion.

“In any case unpaid trial shifts are unethical and should be made unlawful. If an employer wants prospective employees to work a shift, then they should pay them for it.”