Lawyers hail the end of fees for work tribunals

A MERSEYSIDE employment lawyer says a Supreme Court ruling over tribunal fees has lifted a barrier to justice for millions of UK workers.

Fees for taking employers to court over employment issues such as unfair dismissal and unpaid wages were ruled unlawful by Supreme Court judges in London on Wednesday, July 26.

The Government must now repay £32m worth of fees which have been paid by claimants since their introduction in 2013.

Claims against employers fell by 79% following the introduction of the tribunal fees leading judges to decide that the fees were unfairly thwarting workers.

Workers’ unions and employment lawyers believed the tribunal fees prevented some people, especially lower paid workers, from taking legal action against employers.

Solicitor Lindsey Knowles of Kirwans law firm said: “Many workers were simply put off even from seeking legal advice because of the tribunal fees alone.

“Costs of up to £1,200 acted as a barrier and led to potential tribunal actions being immediately abandoned by some workers.

“While vexatious claims should be discouraged, it is clearly unfair that anyone is put off from righting a wrong because they cannot afford it.

“Workers will feel empowered by this Supreme Court decision and again feel confident to seek justice should they feel badly treated by their employer.”