Tesco sparks Twitter fury with job advert A statement from the supermarket chain said: "The advert is a mistake caused by an IT error by Jobcentre Plus and is being rectified. It is an advert for work experience with a guaranteed job interview at the end of it as part of a Government-led work experience scheme. Twitter users claimed that the supermarket was hiring unpaid labour at the expense of the taxpayer. "The taxpayer shouldn't be subsidising a multi-million pound company," one user, Ben Cooper, wrote on the site. Another Twitterer, Bill Dare, said that Tesco was "getting two workers for the price of none." Tesco defended its involvement in the scheme, saying that such work experience could be valuable. So far, 300 young people have gone on to get permanent employment after a placement, the statement added. Such placements were not "a replacement or substitute for our permanent staff." The statement added: "In general, Tesco staff receive a higher level of basic pay than any other supermarket, without exception." Shopworkers' union Usdaw, which represents more than 400,000 workers in high street stores, said it was in discussions with major retailers about their involvement, saying that while work experience could be valuable, schemes should be voluntary and pay the going rate. Employment Minister Chris Grayling told the Commons last month that the scheme was working well and was much better value for money for the taxpayer than the last Labour government's Future Jobs Fund. Jobseekers' allowance is currently paid at £53.45 per week for under-25s, or £67.50 for older staff.