The Ministry of Justice has today confirmed that it will introduce fees for users of the Employment Tribunal from the Summer of 2013. Responding to the announcement, Tim Thomas, Head of Employment Policy at EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, said:
“Fees are one way to encourage more responsible behaviour by tribunal users. We warmly welcome the announcement from the Government that realistic fees will be required from claimants in a way which will still preserve an incentive to settle. Employers have faced a steep rise in speculative claims in recent years, many of which are withdrawn or struck out leaving employers picking up the bill. Claimants risk little under the current system. Fees, if properly introduced, will help check this rise.
“However, the current remission system will result in most claimants paying little or nothing, and whilst we welcome the Government’s intention to consult on changes in the Autumn, unless most claimants have to pay at least some fee, today’s announcement will have little impact.”
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