In the last decade there was a rapid expansion of unpaid training and unpaid internships with an estimated 300,000 unpaid interns (mainly youths and newcomers) working, at one point, solely for “experience”, but then a rush to regulate such labour occurred in various jurisdictions in Canada

In the last decade there was a rapid expansion of unpaid training and unpaid internships with an estimated 300,000 unpaid interns (mainly youths and newcomers) working, at one point, solely for “experience”, but then a rush to regulate such labour occurred in various jurisdictions in Canada. Currently, both unpaid training and non-academic unpaid internships are illegal under the Employment Standards Act, 2000. Noted English labour law acaedemic, Professor Hugh Collins, states “freedom of contract” ensures “elementary respect for the dignity, autonomy and equality of citizens.” Moreover, he says that “the parties are likely to have the best information about where their interests lie, and therefore they should be permitted to forge a compromise between their competing interests without interference by a paternalistic state.” Assess which theoretical perspective, from the readings, most closely underpins Professor Collins’ quote and would unpaid labour be permitted under that theoretical perspective? Explain, why or why not, your position on whether the provincial government should intervene on behalf of certain groups of precarious workers (students, new labour market entrants, newcomers, interns, etc.) to prohibit unpaid training or unremunerated labour to gain experience and if such a barrier to freedom is permissible?