five days a week, transport, lunch, sometimes moving to another city. "you'll gain experience" doesn't cover any of that
i can understand a short placement with actual teaching. six months doing the same work as paid staff is harder to defend. people who hire juniors — what does the intern get that makes this arrangement fair?
At minimum, someone named as their supervisor and time set aside for teaching. What will they be able to do at the end that they couldn't do at the start? If the employer can't answer that, 'experience' isn't much of an offer.
all useful but none of it pays the bus fare. the person without family support still can't take the place
What about a small business that can teach but can't afford another full-time salary? Would a shorter paid placement with fewer hours be more useful than a six-month unpaid one?