Legal News

Claimants need no longer pay fees to bring an employment tribunal claim, following a decision by the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court held in R (Unison) v Lord Chancellor (www.bailii.org) that the system of employment tribunal fees which has been in place since 2013 is unlawful.

With immediate effect, tribunal fees are no longer payable. The government is also to refund employment tribunal fees previously paid.

The introduction of fees substantially reduced the number of tribunal claims being brought, so employers are now likely to see an increase in the number of claims brought against them. Also the question has been raised whether tribunals will be willing to extend the normal three month time limit for bringing a claim if the fee regime previously deterred a claimant.

More: Tribunal legal procedure>Tribunal fees – no longer chargeable.