A BARRHEAD teenager claims he has been left feeling “exploited and undervalued” after working for five hours in a cafe without getting paid.

Christopher Lunday, 18, told the Barrhead News he was asked to do the unpaid trial shift after applying for a waiter’s job at Patisserie Valerie, within Silverburn shopping centre.

The practice, said to be common in the hospitality industry, is designed to let employers test an applicant’s suitability for the job.

However, a number of campaigners, including trade union leaders, have called for the unpaid trials to be banned.

Christopher, who lives with his parents in Cruachan Way, claims his trial shift left an unpleasant taste in his mouth.

He said: “I didn’t even receive a phone call afterwards to say whether or not I had got the job.

“I think these unpaid trial shifts are just free labour.”

Christopher has since secured a job with an outdoor clothes and equipment specialist at Silverburn.

That firm did not ask him to complete an unpaid trial.

Stewart McDonald, the SNP MP for Glasgow South, has lodged a private members bill in Parliament in a bid to protect people like Christopher.

Mr McDonald told the Barrhead News: “This is an awful experience and I’ve had people contact me sharing similar stories, with some people being asked to work up to 40 hours without pay.

“This practice is not only soul destroying, it is unacceptable.

“All work should be paid fairly and properly, which is why the practice of exploitative, unpaid trial shifts must come to an end.

“My bill will make it clear that, if people are going to be offered a trial period where they apply their skills in the hope of securing a job, then they should be paid for their work during that period – whether or not a full offer of employment is made.”

Mr McDonald has also launched a consultation to enable people to give their views on the practice.

His stance is being backed by David Martyn, a partner at specialist employment law firm Thompsons.

Mr Martyn said: “All workers are entitled to receive the national minimum wage for every second of time they are at work.

“The fact that the employer treats that work as a ‘trial’ does not mean that the activities carried out are not to be treated as paid work.

“This is an exploitative employment practice which targets some of the most vulnerable workers in the economy.”

Trade union officials are also worried about the “use and abuse” of unpaid trial shifts.

Dave Moxham, of the STUC, said: “We look forward to working with Stewart McDonald as he brings forward this bill to ensure that trial shifts are no longer used as a source of free labour.”

Patisserie Valerie is a Birmingham-based chain of cafes serving handmade cakes.

It operates more than 170 stores nationwide, turning over in excess of £100 million annually, under various brands.

The firm’s website outlines steps they take to ensure slavery and human trafficking is not occurring in their business or in any of their supply chains.

Ellie Leacroft, group marketing manager at Patisserie Holdings Limited, said: “At times, we do ask job applicants to undertake trial shifts. However, in these instances, we always provide feedback.

“Trials are limited to a maximum of two hours and, where a job applicant asks to be paid for a trial, we do always pay for their time.

“Trial shifts allow job applicants to demonstrate their skills, rather than being judged on a CV. This especially helps those individuals who have little experience in the hospitality sector to obtain employment.”

Commenting on Christopher’s claims, she added: “In the last six months, we have only undertaken two trial shifts at our Glasgow Silverburn store, both of which led to offers of employment.

“We would be happy to pay for the individual’s time if we can track down when and where he worked.”