Tory plans to resurrect charges for employees suing unhealthy bosses slammed by unions
Almost 50 unions, charities and authorized teams be a part of forces as we speak to sentence Tory plans to resurrect charges for employees searching for to sue unhealthy bosses.
The joint assertion comes after ministers kick-started a session final month to reintroduce charges at employment tribunals. They have been ditched in 2017 after the Government misplaced a landmark Supreme Court problem introduced by Unison union.
In a joint assertion the teams together with the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Disability Rights UK, Maternity Action and the Fawcett Society stated the measure would “give a green light to bad employers to exploit their workers”. “Bad employers are being given the go-ahead to undercut good ones, safe in the knowledge they are less likely to face claims in the employment tribunal.
They added: “Workers seeking recovery of wage theft, unpaid redundancy pay and compensation for unfair dismissal are being asked to stump up extra money at an incredibly tough moment in their lives.” Urging the Government to reconsider the plans amid the cost of living crisis, they warn: “Access to justice must never be contingent on your ability to pay”.
Last month the Ministry of Justice said it was looking at “introducing modest fees” for employment tribunals. The department said: “This will ensure users are paying towards the running costs of the tribunals and put its users on broadly the same footing as users of other courts and tribunals who already pay fees.”
TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said: “All working people should be able to enforce their rights. But introducing fees for tribunals puts yet another hurdle in the way of those seeking justice at their most vulnerable moment. Employment tribunal fees give employers a pass to exploit workers – whether it’s discrimination, unfair sackings or withheld wages”.
Rosalind Bragg, director at Maternity Action Group, said: “Charging charges for employment tribunal claims places the justice system out of attain for girls at a time when they’re most in want of safety.”
The Ministry of Justice has been contacted for comment.
