From 6^th April Employment Tribunals will be given new powers to ensure that monetary awards to victims of unfair dismissal or discrimination in the workplace will be paid. The new rules follow reports that many victims of discrimination and unfair dismissal receive only part of their award or none at all from their former employer.

Research from the Ministry of Justice published in May of last year suggested that 39% of people who had been awarded monetary compensation had not been paid and only 53% were paid the entire amount due.

In order to combat this behaviour on the part of unscrupulous employers, the Ministry of Justice has been publishing names of people and employers who have defaulted on payments awarded in Employment Tribunals in an effort to shame them into paying. The list, which has been being compiled since April 2009 now contains over 570 names.

Fortunately for the victims of unfair dismissal or discrimination, the new rules allow the use of High Court Enforcement Officers to chase employers for the money. In the new scheme, known as the Employment Tribunal Fast Track, the enforcement offers will be analogous to County Court bailiffs and employing their services will cost the normal £50 court fee. Once this is paid they will act to get the money for the victim, with powers to seize assets if necessary.