A NEW group of MPs speaking out against unpaid trial shifts will launch today after a sustained campaign by Scottish hospitality workers.

Pubs, bars and restaurants are among the types of business that often require job applicants to work a turn for free before deciding whether to employ them.

It is estimated that the practice allows Britain’s bosses to benefit from unpaid labour to the tune of around £3 billion a year.

A parliamentary Bill sponsored by the SNP’s Stewart McDonald has widespread backing, including from Labour, but the Tories blocked it from going to a vote last year.

Now the all-party parliamentary group on unpaid work trials wants to bring together MPs from all major parties to gather evidence and produce a report to tackle the problem.

Better Than Zero, a Glasgow-based organisation backed by the Scottish TUC, has led the campaign to end unpaid trial shifts.

“We know from our members across the hospitality industry that the use of unpaid trial shifts, particularly within the bars and restaurant industry, has grown exponentially over the past few years, with employers — large and small — using unpaid trial shifts to cover staff absence with no intention of giving them a job at the end of it,” said Better Than Zero organiser Bryan Simpson.

“These workers need legal protection from unscrupulous employers who continue to use unpaid trial shifts as a shameless way to obtain free labour. The creation of an all-party group on unpaid trial shifts is an important step in that direction.”

The problem is not confined to hospitality — even the BBC was advertising for unpaid workers last month to help with its coverage of the Wimbledon tennis championships.

Mr McDonald, who represents Glasgow South at Westminster, said: “The culture of unpaid work is a scourge on society — and the UK government must finally take meaningful action to tackle it. 

“People doing a fair day’s work deserve a fair day’s pay. This should not be up for debate.”

He said he would continue to make the case for a UK-wide law, but argued that, if this effort fails, Westminster should devolve powers to the Scottish Parliament so that MSPs can “end this unjust practice.”