Interior designer facing backlash after posting unpaid internships..worth at least 34,000

AN EDINBURGH interior design company have been slammed for advertising six unpaid internships worth at least 34,000 a year.

Casa Morada Interiors posted the six-month, 35-hour-a-week vacancies on Gumtree.

And owner Eva Serrano has now been forced to scrap them after a furious backlash from workers rights activists over the lack of pay.

Serrano had initially defended the offers, saying those dedicated enough would be willing to hold down a second paying job to make it in the industry.

But the 40-year-old copped a torrent of abuse online. Logan Vaughn wrote: The idea that you wanted to add value to your company by exploiting free labour is inherently disgusting and flagrantly illegal.

Work experience does not last six months.

Anthony Hall said: Exploitation of young people or any people for that matter with this nonsense is wrong. Disgusting.

Neill Hope added: Could you redesign the interior of the living room of my house please? If I like the work youve done, I might pay you. Sound fair?

The Scottish Trade Union Congress also warned the practice was not acceptable and that the firm who Serrano founded two years ago were in serious danger of falling foul to minimum wage legislation.

Roles advertised included an office admin assistant, a graphic designer and a design technician. If paid at least the minimum wage for over-21s, they would be worth around 34,000.

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Interior designer facing backlash after posting unpaid internships..worth at least 34,000