Its signatories, who include student, graduate and union representatives, are demanding government action to 'end this hidden economy and enforce existing minimum wage legislation'.

Minimum wage legislation was widely ignored and a corporate myth arose that intern programmes were exempt from it.

They are expressly excluded from the national minimum wage legislation and, under rules that have not been updated since 2002, need be paid only £4 per week for their work.

More than three quarters (77 per cent) said that they were obliged to work set hours, which could mean that their employer was in breach of minimum wage legislation.

Tenancy reforms, including rent control and minimum wage legislation were enacted with mixed results.