TUC urges last gasp intervention on tribunal fees

The TUC has called on MPs to make a last-ditch effort to halt plans for employment tribunal fees, warning that if the fees go ahead many of the UK's lowest paid workers will be priced out of justice.

While the government's plans for tribunals include a 'remission scheme' which will make some of the lowest paid exempt from the proposed costs, the TUC believes that a substantial proportion of workers who are on the minimum wage will still be required to pay fees of up to £345 to take a case to an employment tribunal.

This is because the test for the ability to pay will be based on household income rather than an individual's earnings. This assumes that all household income is shared equally between a couple. The TUC does not agree that a woman's capacity to enforce her individual rights should depend on her partner's consent.

The TUC believes that fees proposed for tribunals have also been set disproportionately high in order to deter many people from taking valid claims to tribunal, and as a result some individuals will be required to pay upfront fees which are higher than the value of their claim.

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