Not having read all the previous posts I'd like to give you an example on how bad it is these days.
Our newly hired F/Os carry the usual sum of their MPL/ATPL training of everything between 100k and 125K €.
Than they'll pay to be interviewed by the airline (the airline has an agreement with that particular flight school).
If they pass they than have to pay 15k € for the rating and are being offered a contract for one year (note that the airline is expanding at fast pace). After a year the contract will be renewed - or not - as a fairly high number of new recruits are willing to pay as well.
Company benefits (profit on training instead of paying for), flightschool makes money, sim center makes money e.g...
At the same time management wonders why only a small number of these guys stay on once their contract runs out and contractual obligations no longer exits. They simply run from modern slavery for greener pastures.
I heard from another company that is actually asking for 2k € from cabin crew to be hired for one year
Creating more depth makes people to 'have to work' and accept offers that nobody normally would accept.
My personal policy is 'not to pay' and thus I turned down screenings and contracts although I liked the idea of working there.
A bit off topic, but recently an agency asked me to pay 12k USD for a contract and seriously wrote that it is 'only' 12k.
Another agency offered a screening but asked me to pay for the simulator time
If we all would stop offering to pay than, only than could it change again. But it's probably already way to late to change this system again.