Shadow Business Secretary, Chuka Umunna, has said Labour will reform the employment tribunal system if elected at the next general election – but stopped short at saying the party would completely do away with fees.
In a speech to the Trades Union Congress Mr Umunna said a Labour government would replace the current system with a ‘more streamlined and less bureaucratic’ procedure for employees and bosses, that would make it more cost effective.
But he would not commit to scrapping the controversial fees introduced in July last year, saying a reversion back to the old system would be a ‘mistake’.
The system introduced last year sees claimants paying fees that start at around £160 to issue a claim, rising to £250 a claim, depending on the type, and a further hearing fee ranging from £230 to £950.
This move has been heavily criticised for failing to meet the needs of more vulnerable employees who cannot afford to take the risk of taking a claim to court.
This criticism has been evident in the number of employment tribunal claims dropping by around 80%, with unions saying that workers are now being completely priced out of access to justice.
“The current employment tribunal system is unfair, unsustainable and has resulted in prohibitive costs locking people out of the justice they are entitled to,” said Mr Umunna.
“If we are elected, the next Labour government will abolish the current system, reform the employment tribunals and put in place a new system which ensures all workers have proper access to justice.”
The current government has already suggested it may review the fees system for employment tribunals, but it is unclear whether this will take place before or after the next general election.
Following the speech the CBI’s Director for Employment and Skills policy, Neil Cardberry, said: ““Fees should not remove access to justice for those with legitimate claims, so a review of the level set is something businesses could support.”