Employment Tribunal Fees Update

New rules introducing Employment Tribunal fees have now been set out and are expected to come into force towards the end of July 2013. Under the new system, claimants bringing a claim in the Employment Tribunal will be required to pay a fee, first on issue of Employment Tribunal proceedings (issue fee), and subsequently, if the case is not settled, withdrawn or otherwise dismissed, another fee 4-6 weeks before the hearing date (hearing fee).

Claimants who can't afford fees will be able to apply for a waiver of the fee under a scheme set out in the new rules. A new scheme is currently being proposed which includes a test which assesses a claimant's savings - this scheme is currently subject to a public consultation which will be closing on 16 May 2013. If those proposals go ahead it could mean less claimants will be eligible for a fee waiver.