Advertisement

Labour 'will scrap fees for employment tribunals'

Labour will abolish fees for taking cases to an employment tribunal if it wins the General Election.

There was a slump in the number of claims after feeds came into effect in 2013.

Charges start at around £160, rising to £250, with a further hearing fee ranging from £230 to £950.

Central London Employment Tribunal in Victory House in central London Credit: Philip Toscano/PA Wire

The manifesto says Labour would "ensure proper access to justice in the workplace by abolishing the Government's employment tribunal fee system, as part of reforms to create a system that is quicker for employers and employees and cheaper for the taxpayer".

The announcement was welcomed by trade unions, which have been campaigning to have the fees scrapped.

At long last we have a major political party prepared to address and give rights to workers to shield them from exploitation in their workplaces.

Voters are faced with a stark choice - a party governing in the interest of corporate bosses with zero-hours contracts and for tax breaks for the wealthy elite or a party seeking to provide rights and protection for working people.

– Paul Kenny, general secretary of the GMB union