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‘Unlawful’ fees revisited

30 January 2024
Issue: 8057 / Categories: Legal News , Profession , Employment
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Fees for employment tribunal claims and Employment Appeal Tribunal appeals could be reintroduced, despite the Supreme Court ruling them unlawful seven years ago in R (on the application of Unison) v Lord Chancellor [2017] UKSC 51

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) launched a consultation this week on proposals to introduce a uniform £55 fee for employment claims and appeals (as opposed to fees challenged by Unison in 2017, which ranged from £390 to £1,200 for a single claimant or £780 to £7,200 for groups). Justice minister Mike Freer said the ‘modest’ fees would contribute towards running costs and incentivise parties to settle.

Freer said the MoJ has ‘carefully considered’ the 2017 ruling and endeavoured to ensure the fees proposed ‘are proportionate and affordable’.

However, Unison general secretary Christina McAnea said tribunal fees ‘denied the poorest and most vulnerable access to justice. Nothing has changed. Tribunal fees were unfair then and they are still unfair today.’

Issue: 8057 / Categories: Legal News , Profession , Employment
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