SINGAPORE: A young man with a disability has been denied a paid role as a council binman after months of working for them for free.

Bryan Rowe, 21, had dreamt of becoming a binman since the age of two, but was left disappointed when Southampton city council twice rejected him for paid work at the end of his nine-month internship.

Mr Rowe has ADHD and myotonic dystrophy, a form of muscular dystrophy which causes progressive muscle loss, weakness in the organs.

He worked as a waste management loader for the council as part of a supported internship.

When his placement came to an end, he was encouraged to apply for permanent roles, but after a series of rejections Mr Rowe has said he now feels as though he is “not good enough” to get any job.

Mr Rowe’s mother, Claire Rowe, has lodged a formal complaint with the council. “He worked for free for nine months, he was always enthusiastic and on time,” she said. “The council didn’t have a problem with him during his placement, but now all of a sudden he’s not good enough and can’t do the role.”

Her son, from Sholing in Southampton, completed his placement with the council between November 2024 and June 2025, and has been looking for permanent work ever since.

She said that since leaving college last summer, Mr Rowe has been trying to get a bin worker role with other local authorities and has also looked into private waste businesses, but without success.

Southampton city council, which has been Labour-led since 2022, offers supported internships to young people with education, health and care plans in order to help them transition “from education to the world of work”.

Their website states that the internships usually last for a year, with an unpaid work placement that lasts “at least six months”.

Mr Rowe said he was “very disappointed” not to get a job after two interviews, and told his mother: “I am not good enough to get anything – not even a binman job.”

Ms Rowe added: “He is very downhearted, he said he doesn’t want to bother applying any more because nobody wants him.

“While Bryan can do it, we want him to do it, because there might be a time where his myotonic dystrophy will pop up and stop him.”

A spokesman for the council said: “Southampton city council is committed to fair, inclusive and transparent recruitment processes.

“We are unable to comment on individual applications or personal circumstances, but recruitment decisions are made through formal interview processes which are reviewed to ensure they are fair and equitable, with appropriate involvement from HR.

“The council continues to keep its recruitment practices under review to ensure they are as inclusive and accessible as possible.”