Shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna says current tribunal fees 'lock people out of the justice they are entitled to'


Business groups have hit back angrily at Labour proposals to scrap the employment tribunal system which it claims is "unfair" because of the fees charged to those who are launching claims. "Recent reforms which encourage early resolution of disputes are a step in the right direction, and fees to make a claim are a vital part of that," said Neil Carberry, director for employment and skills policy at business lobby group the CBI. "Fees should not remove access to justice for those with legitimate claims, so a review is something businesses could support." The Institute of Directors called the fees a "sensible way to weed out weak or vexatious claims". James Sproule, the Institute's director of policy, added: "Before the refundable charges were introduced, fewer than one in 10 tribunal cases against IoD members were won by the claimant, wasting large amounts of money and management time." Shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna told the TUC Congress yesterday that fees – which range from £160 to £250 to issue a claim, and £230 to £950 for a tribunal hearing – are "locking people out"......Read more here