Girl had to clean loos (From Stroud News and Journal)

Girl had to clean loos

A TEENAGE girl on work experience at a Stroud hotel was pulled out of the scheme after only two days because her mother thought she was being used as slave labour.

The 15-year-old girl from Thomas Keble School started a trial week at the Bell Hotel, Wallbridge on Monday, July 8.

The girl's mother, who did not want her daughter to be identified, withdrew her from the programme the following day.

The woman, who lives with her two children at the Top of Town, said: "Talk about exploitation.

"She applied to the Bell because she was interested in hotel work. She doesn't want to do it any more.

"She was made to wash floors, clean the windows and iron the sheets.

"She had to clean the men's urinals, and clear behind the bars in the daytime.

"I have done waitressing work and I know you should clean up after the session, not leave everything 'til the next morning."

"She was used as a general skivvy. She feels let down and disgusted."

Mr Robert Moss, head of Years 10 and 11 at Thomas Keble, said he knew nothing of this case but in general the work experience programme was very successful.

"Employers from Stroud are wonderful," he said, "and we value our relationship with them.

"We do not expect slave labour, but we do expect pupils to take the rough with the smooth.

"The whole point of work experience is for them to find out what the real world of work is like.

"But I wouldn't expect a 15-year-old to have to clean the men's toilets.

"I have arranged work programmes at two schools and have only ever had one or two problems.

"Anyone who has a bad experience should contact the school."

Bell manager Sarah Close said that nothing the girl was asked to do was unreasonable.

"This girl undertook tasks which are common practice within the hotel industry," she said.

"General cleaning duties are part of a necessary daily routine.

"Even the management have to clean rooms after the departure of guests.

"The girl was only asked to mop out the hotel's two toilets on one occasion.

"She was also asked to wash a small number of glasses in the hotel bar that had been left over from breakfast.

"She had a well structured work experience programme, which would have provided her with an invaluable and rewarding experience.

"It is unfortunate that she did not try to resolve this situation more amicably."