- They were forced (or tricked, or coerced) into working for private companies. We're talking about jobs in supermarkets and (the UK equivalent of) dollar stores.

- The taxpayer paid the wage (the same as jobseeker's allowance, I think). The private companies didn't pay anything.

- Companies could just sack their workers and enjoy the benefits of free labour.

So much for the minimum wage! How can minimum-wage workers compete with free labour? (Free from the company's perspective, that is.) And this was supposed to reduce unemployment?!

And anyway, if people are working, why aren't they getting minimum wage?