Pharmacy employers are taking part in a government work experience programme that can see participants working unpaid for eight weeks or losing benefits, C+D has learned.

Superdrug, Asda and Tesco are all taking part in the scheme, which aims to help young benefits claimants secure paid work, a Freedom of Information request by C+D has revealed. Sainsbury's was also named as taking part in the scheme at a local level, but the company stressed that it was never "formally involved" and had since enforced across all stores its initiative for getting previously unemployed people into paid work.

The companies involved in the government scheme told C+D it was helping job seekers find work. While Superdrug stressed participants had gained both "retailing skills and confidence", Asda explained the scheme had helped to "break the cycle of needing a job to get experience, and experience to get a job".

But the scheme has faced criticism after it was reported some participants were being forced to work up to 30 hours a week without pay and be available from 9am until 10pm, or risk losing their benefits. In December, one geology graduate initiated legal action against the government after working for free at Poundland.

The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) confirmed it could dock benefits from those who had agreed to a scheme placement but did not arrive on time, attend every day and play a "full part in the role" without good cause. It argued that participants were exempted from the national minimum wage because they were "not doing an actual job". The DWP also revealed that early analysis had found half of those who entered the programme had come off benefits within three months.

A C+D poll suggested readers were split on the issue, as 59 per cent believed two-month placements were taking advantage, while 41 per cent thought they were good experience.

Superdrug confirmed it had participated in the initiative since August 2011, and had taken on 238 jobseekers to date. "We are involved with the programme to help support the community, provide training opportunities and help get people back into work," the company's HR director Jo Mackie said. Asda told C+D the placements helped people "get experience and develop their CV". Tesco was not available for comment.

The DWP confirmed that neither Boots nor Lloydspharmacy were participating in the scheme. Lloydspharmacy told C+D it did not take on unpaid interns, while Boots declined to comment on its work experience policy.