A few months ago two young workers at Poundland appealed to the courts against being forced to work there for no wages at all or else forfeit all their benefits. The judge in the Court of Appeal decided in their favour, but also ruled that existing back-to-work schemes, of which Poundland was just one of very many, were invalid because the participants were not given proper information about back-to-work schemes.
The schemes were also invalid, it was ruled, as participants were not informed about their obligations under these schemes, and were not told of the sanctions that would be applied if they did not comply. The government appealed to the Supreme court, but meanwhile brought in a new Bill, all of whose stages were taken in one day – today – in order to restore the status quo ante, thus breaking several rules.
