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David Lammy The employment tribunal has refused to impose fees for workers bringing claims after unions reacted to the proposed move.
Secretary of Justice And Deputy Prime Minister Said that “everyone, regardless of their income” should be able to challenge “unfair treatment”.
TUC general secretary Paul Novak warned that forcing claimants to pay would be a “gift to bad bosses” after it emerged the government is considering plans to introduce a tribunal fee.
The proposals were put forward as part of efforts to find savings in the Ministry of Justice’s budget, to recover some of the costs of running the service. Guardian Reported last week.
But Mr Novak said the fees would cost “more than is generated” and low-paid workers would be denied access to justice.
In a statement on Wednesday, Mr Lammy confirmed he would “remain free to bring the case to the employment tribunal”.
“Everyone, regardless of their income, should be able to access justice to challenge unfair treatment at work,” she said.
“This is fundamental to Labour’s plan to make work pay.”
Tribunal claims were free until Lord David Cameron’s coalition government introduced charges of up to £1,200 in some cases in 2013 as part of cost-cutting efforts.
After this the fees were abolished in 2017 Supreme Court Ruled that they were illegal.
The Justice Secretary’s statement was welcomed by trade unions, with Mr Novak calling it an “important commitment”.
Ross Holden, GMB’s head of research and policy, said: “Forcing employees to do this would give bad bosses the opportunity to fly in the face of the right thing.
“It is a relief to hear that the Secretary of State has promised that this will not happen on his watch.”