Job Offer - have to do 20 days of unpaid work, and after that, I would be employed with a salary. What should I do?

I gave an interview in a private limited company and received an offer letter. It stated that I had to do 20 days of unpaid work, and after that, I would be employed with a salary. What should I do?

Never accept such offers. It shows the culture of the organisation. If you join such companies, it would give a message that they can get such free service from employees in future also. Therefore, never accept the offer.

IF THIS IS THE KIND OF NATURE OF THE MANAGEMENT, I SUGGEST YOU NEVER TAKE THE OFFER AND NEVER JOINED THERE.

Dear member,

Making an employee work for free is against the Factory Act or Shops and Establishment Act. An employee, whether hired for casual work or otherwise, must get remuneration commensurate with the duration of work, quality of work or the quantum of work. Indian labour laws do not have a provision for "free of cost" work.

The employer includes a condition in the offer letter that the candidate needs to do unpaid work in their company and wants to play safe. As such a newly joined candidate will be on probation and during probation the candidates can be removed with just a notice. So the employer can discontinue the employment without having a liability to pay anything to the candidate. So, the employers want a cake and eat it too.

Employers are expected to develop a robust recruitment process to recruit worthy and competent candidates. However, the expectation to work for free shows they are unsure of their recruitment process. The free work de-risks their failure.

Lastly, it is about setting a new trend too. If you agree to this unusual job offer, the employer's expectation will rise and they will expect the same from the other job candidates also. The malaise will spread to the other employers and it could become the industry norm.

Thanks,

Dinesh Divekar

This condition is unusual and unheard of in a Ltd.Co. Why they insist such an unprecedented usual measure?