I'm not condoning this type of deal in any way whatsoever, but before all us pilots feel hard done by then have a look at this:
Graduates 'paying £8,000 for internships' - Telegraph
unfortunately in Gordon Browns brave new world, this now appears to be the norm in getting 'work' in any industry.
Obviously it is all unsustainable and will all go pear shaped at some point - but when? 1 year, 10 years? who the hell knows.