Government fee proposals for justice seekers slammed by TUC

Workers taking claims to employment tribunals may soon have to pay under new government proposals.

The Ministry of Justice is considering two options: An initial fee of between £150 and £250 just to make a claim with an additional fee between £250 and £1,250 should the claim go to hearing.

Or, a single fee of between £200 and £600 and the possibility of a £1,750 fee should the claimant look for an award of more than £30,000.

The fees will be refunded if the claimant is successful, but they will have to be paid upfront.

The TUC has slammed the proposals, with regional secretary of the South West TUC  Nigel Costley saying: “Employment tribunals are a key way of enabling workers to enforce their rights. Government proposals to introduce a fee to lodge an initial claim – and then possibly a further charge for a full hearing – will effectively prevent the poorest and most vulnerable workers from ever being able to get justice.

“It is completely unacceptable that a worker on the minimum wage, who has been underpaid and denied holiday pay, may now have to pay a fee of £250 or more to claim back what they are entitled to because their employer flouted the law.”