No pricing people out of justice – reject Tribunal Fees
Alex Chalk KC MP, Secretary of State for Justice
The last time Tribunal Fees were implemented, in 2013, they caused a two-thirds fall in in employment tribunal claims. That wasn't because employers were behaving better; it meant that two thirds of people exploited at work couldn't afford to access justice. It was a huge victory for everyone when the UK Supreme Court ruled them illegal in 2017.
Now, however, the government is proposing to bring them back. A new consultation has been launched, with opinions sought only on the scale of the charges; that there will be tribunal fees has already been decided and, according to the government's own documents, they predict that claims will drop by a fifth.
It is already incredibly difficult for workers to bring their employer to a tribunal over discrimination, unpaid wages, or unfair dismissal. Many of those who most need protection from exploitation at work, such as outsourced or migrant workers, face huge barriers to accessing the tribunal system. Adding fees will make it all but impossible - especially when millions are already unable to afford essentials.
We cannot allow justice to be luxury for those who can afford it.
We're calling on the government to immediately scrap the proposed introduction of employment tribunal fees.
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To:
Alex Chalk KC MP, Secretary of State for Justice
From:
[Your Name]
We've come together as a group to respond to the government's consultation on employment tribunal fees. We are calling on you as the Secretary of State for Justice to scrap the proposed implementation of employment tribunal fees and ensure justice does not become a paid luxury.
While we are glad the Ministry of Justice says that it has learned the lessons from the 2017 judgement on the previous regime of tribunal fees, we note that the goverment's own consultation documents state that bringing in the new fee regime will cause claims to drop by a fifth. The people barred by the cost of bringing a claim will likely be the most vulnerable, who will already face other barriers to bringing a successful claim if they are exploited at work, including: a lack of education on their rights and how the system should enfore then; a lack of access to advice and support; and fear of the consequences.
When millions are going without essentials due to the cost of living crisis, a charge of £55 will be unaffordable for so many.
We can all agree that it is unacceptable to bar people from accessing justice because they are unable to pay. This principle must be protected.
That is why we, the undersigned, are calling on you to immediately scrap the proposed implementation of employment tribunal fees.