The new slavery in the EU

[AZRedhawk44]

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-01-24/europes-modest-proposal-end-unemployment-slavery

Coming to the US?

Having spent weeks talking amongst themselves about the chronic and dangerous rise of youth unemployment in Europe (as we warned here), the Center of planning and Economic Research in Greece has proposed a controversial measure. As GreekReporter reports, the measure includes unpaid work for the young and unemployed up to 24 years old, so that companies would have a strong motive to hire young employees. "Unpaid" work sounds a lot like slavery to us... but it gets better; the report also suggested "exporting young unemployed persons."

So instead of paying deadbeats to not work, they're going to bring the deadbeats into the few remaining locii of productivity and compel them to work for no compensation.

And those that are SO UNDESIRABLE as to be unemployable for zero wage liability... will be shipped to another country by force, to be that country's problem.

[Ron]

Nothing new under the sun

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

This plan might be many things, but slavery ain't one of 'em.  I didn't see anything that said he unpaid work was compulsory.  

Unpaid volunteer work and internships are a great way for young folks to gain experience and increase their appeal to future employers.

[Devonai]

Compulsory?  Maybe not.  Contingent for the continued receipt of state benefits?  Maybe.

[RevDisk]

This plan might be many things, but slavery ain't one of 'em.  I didn't see anything that said he unpaid work was compulsory.  

Unpaid volunteer work and internships are a great way for young folks to gain experience and increase their appeal to future employers.

I'm very thankful I avoided internships. I believe in work and I believe in charity. I work for money. I like my field and often have projects I enjoy, but I work for money. No money, no work. I've always been very skeptical of unpaid internships, especially as they frequently venture into illegal territory. Volunteer work is different, in my opinion. I do it for altruism, and expect/want no compensation. Generally it's to help an individual, improve the community, for the public good, whatever. Volunteering to make someone else money is not altruism, in my opinion. Not claiming that folks shouldn't be allowed to freely contract as they want. Stupid isn't and probably shouldn't be illegal. But doing mandatory unpaid work is the definition of slavery. Working off a sentence isn't the same as "unpaid", ditto voluntary indentured servitude, etc.

That said, it's a bloody think tank study from a place with a really bad web site. I wouldn't flip excrement over the matter.

http://www.kepe.gr/EN_Pages/home.htm

[Tallpine]

I'm very thankful I avoided internships. I believe in work and I believe in charity. I work for money.

I did an internship for college credit.  The "company" paid the tuition so it worked out good for me at the time.

The next year, they paid me to do the same project again (annual budget).

[RevDisk]

I did an internship for college credit.  The "company" paid the tuition so it worked out good for me at the time.

The next year, they paid me to do the same project again (annual budget).

Phrased badly. Pay doesn't have to necessarily mean cash. I've been paid in food, tuition, ammo, components, services and precious metals. Only thing I don't touch is  Kimberley Process Certified diamonds. My morals are flexible, but not THAT flexible and I don't touch 'em.