UK: TUC figures show 9,000 fewer employment tribunal applications per month in wake of fees

New figures published by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) show that the number of working people challenging discrimination or unfair treatment at work has fallen by 9,000 a month since charges of up to £1,200 came in.

The analysis shows that in the year (2012-13) before tribunal fees were introduced, 16,000 people per month, on average, took a claim against their employer to tribunal.

But in 2015-16, the average number of people taking claims had dropped to 7,000 a month.

This includes a drop of nearly three-quarters (-73 per cent) for unfair dismissal claims. And there have been sharp falls in challenges over sex discrimination (-71 per cent), race discrimination (-58 per cent) and disability discrimination (-54 per cent).

The TUC said the figures show that a key mechanism to stamp out discrimination and stop unfair sackings is broken, allowing discrimination to “flourish unchecked”.

The Ministry of Justice was due to publish a review on the impact of fees by the end of 2015. However, nearly a year on, nothing has happened.

The TUC said the review must be published urgently and is calling on Theresa May and Phillip Hammond to abolish fees in this month’s Autumn Statement.

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “These figures show a huge drop in workers seeking justice when they’ve been unfairly treated. Now bosses know they can get away with it, discrimination at work can flourish unchecked and people can be sacked without good reason.

“The evidence is there for all to see. These fees – of up to £1200, even if you’re on the minimum wage – are pricing out thousands each month from pursuing cases.

“Theresa May has repeatedly said she wants to govern for ordinary working people. Here is a perfect opportunity. She could reverse employment tribunal fees, and make sure workers can challenge bad employers in court.”