Should interns be paid for their time?

Interns should be paid a minimum training wage of £2.50 an hour, according to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development . There is a feeling that many young people on work experience are exploited dogsbodies, sometimes doing jobs that people would previously have been paid for. The CIPD also suggests that "unpaid internships act as a barrier to social mobility, as students and graduates from less well-off backgrounds may be put off applying". On the other hand, Barbara Ellen, writing in the Observer recently , argues that doing mundane tasks and feeling underpaid have always been features of life for those starting out on a career. So should "workies" stop moaning on sites such as Interns Anonymous , and just be glad of whatever opportunities they get? Or is a training wage essential to improving social mobility and easing access to professional vocations? This was written by an unpaid intern, who would like to thank the Guardian for offering to cover lunch and travel expenses during his week's tenure