Page 6 - ELG2307 Jul Issue 485

NEWS .

Are IH London summer centres

paying below minimum wage?

By Melanie Butler of between £420 and £450 for 45 minutes before paid overtime to 22, falling to 55.5 hours if they
International House (IH) London 48 normal (contracted) hours, a is due. are 23+ before overtime must
has been advertising roles at its week. Information on their website The age group of the workers is be paid.
Young Learners summer centres clearly stated that all 2023 wages key. Positions as Student Helpers, Teachers at summer schools like
with pay rates below National are calculated inclusive of the advertised at an effective rate of IH London Young learners, where
Minimum Wage (NMW), the government’s Accommodation £183.67 a week, are easily enough the accommodation offset has
Gazette can reveal. Offset of £63.70 a week, which, for 16- and 17-year-olds for the 30 been deducted, have an effective
While IH London is the first perfectly legally, would be deducted hours a week they have to work. pay rate of only £513.70 reducing
school found by the Gazette to from gross pay. 18-year-olds are required to work allowable unpaid overtime to
be openly publicizing pay rates For National Minimum Wage “two out of three daily sessions” just 2.5 hours a week; more than
below NMW, It is unlikely to be purposes, the effective rate of for 6 days a week for the same 48 hours for 21–22-year-olds or
the only UK accredited provider pay is the total of the weekly money. The maximum weekly 1 hour and 15 minutes a week if
to be paying below the legal wage (420) added to current time legally allowable for this age you are 23 or over.
limit, judging by complaints. The accommodation offset (63.7). In group at that rate is 24.5 hours. All the IH job descriptions we
following statements, all reporting this case, though, the effective Most summer centres do not read included the caveat “You are
on other accredited providers, weekly wage (487.7) is below the deduct the accommodation offset, required to work such hours as are
were published on Glassdoor in 2023 minimum wage for a 48- so an extra amount of unpaid reasonably required to carry out
the last 12 months: hour week for any worker over overtime can be perfectly legally your role effectively.”
“Long hours - 16+ hours a day the age of 20. IH London summer added to the working hours Asked for comment, Tom
on excursion days.” teachers must be graduates with allowable under their weekly wage Leibowicz of the TEFL worker’s
“Worked more than 60 hours per one year’s experience and thus are (see box below). If a teacher is Union said: “Whether through
week, though I was paid for 40.” likely to be at least 21. paid the top effective IH London malice or through ignorance we
“Told I would be ... given time off The £463.70 effective rate of rate of £513.70, fairly close to can’t rely on EFL schools to do
in lieu. This never happened.” pay advertised to graduate or the average UK rate for teachers right by us.”
undergraduate Activity Leaders this summer and the offset is not All UK summer school
This year IH London job for 48 hours is below minimum deducted, they have an effective workers can contact the Union
advertisements appeared on wage for anyone over the age of pay rate of £577.40 and can be at https://teflworkersunion.org/
Tefl.com offering residential 20. However, 18- to 20-year-olds asked to work for a total 56 hours or make an anonymous call to
teaching roles at summer schools can be asked to work 58 hours and and 45 minutes if they are aged 21 ACAS on 0300 123 1100.
6 July 2023