Employees stuck due to tribunal fees

Undermining access to justice was the “inevitable effect” of introducing employment tribunal fees two years ago, the Law Society has said in a stiffly worded attack on the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). It said the MoJ’s own statistics reveal employment tribunal cases have fallen by more than 60%, and that people who have just lost their job and are facing financial uncertainty are unable to pay levies of up to £1,200. Law Society president Jonathan Smithers says the fees are “well beyond the reach of many people, particularly those on lower incomes”. The Justice Committee recently announced an inquiry into the impact of court and tribunal fees.