Soundbite: Workers may have to pay to bring Tribunal claims

The government is reportedly considering the reintroduction of charges for workers to bring claims in the employment tribunal, with the aim being to recover some of the costs of running the tribunal system.

The proposal suggests charging a fee of £55 for lodging a tribunal claim or appeal, which is significantly lower than the charges of up to £1,600 under the previous regime, which was abolished in 2017 following a Supreme Court ruling.

Supporters of the proposal argue that the introduction of a nominal fee would help to alleviate the significant backlog in the tribunal system, which is likely to be exacerbated by the government’s introduction of day-one rights for unfair dismissal and extending time limits for claims under the Employment Rights Bill currently making its way through parliament. It is hoped that charging workers to bring claims would encourage early resolution of disputes and reduce frivolous or speculative claims.

However, critics, especially unions, have raised concerns that even a small fee could deter vulnerable workers from pursuing legitimate claims, contradicting the government’s pledge to strengthen protections for workers.

Make sure to look out for our future Soundbites for any updates on this proposal.

If you need any advice on or assistance with tribunal claims, please get in touch with a member of the team.