An online vacancy was posted online saying that the applicant would only receive Jobseekers’ Allowance plus expenses.
The job is one of hundreds of unpaid roles made by the supermarket as part of the Government’s “workfare scheme” to tackle long-term unemployment.
Last night the supermarket said the listing, posted on the Jobcentre Plus website for a job in a store in East Anglia, was posted in error.
But Tesco has been accused of “cashing in on misery” in a climate of unemployment.
Sam James, from campaign group Right to Work, said: “This is another example of working-class people being forced to pay for a crisis created by the greed of the rich.”
The advert also sparked anger from Twitter users, claiming that the supermarket was hiring unpaid labour and charging the taxpayer.
Ben Cooper tweeted: “The taxpayer shouldn’t be subsidising a multi-million pound company.”
Bill Dare also tweeted saying that Tesco was “getting two workers for the piece of none.”
A spokesman 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.”
The statement added that so far 300 people have gone on to get permanent employment after a placement.
Applicants for unpaid roles are paid the standard rates of Jobseekers’ Allowance, which is £53.45 a week for under-25s and £67.50 for those who are older.
Supermarket chain Sainsbury’s and Waterstones book retailer have withdrawn from the workfare scheme.
