Employment appeals tribunal cases up 19%

The Employment Appeals Tribunal received 19 per cent more complaints last year over 2001, it was announced today.

The tribunal annual report for 2002 showed 6,259 cases were referred last year, compared to 5,257 in 2001. In 2002, 4,602 claims and appeals were disposed of - an increase of 608 on 2001.

Most cases deal with unfair dismissal, minimum notice and redundancy payments cases. Claims for holiday pay also formed a significant part of the Tribunal's work.

The most significant increase is the rise from 957 to 1,311 in the number of claims and appeals referred under the Unfair Dismissals Act.

The Minister for Labour Affairs at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr Fahey, said the tribunal provided "a fair, impartial, speedy and informal forum for the resolution of employment disputes within its jurisdiction".

The Tribunal was set up under the Redundancy Payments Act, 1967 for the purpose of resolving disputes concerning employees' entitlements to statutory redundancy payments.

Its remit was later extended to include responsibility for the settlement of disputes under various other Acts.