People with valid grievances against their employers may be put off from taking their case to a tribunal following the introduction of new fees, it is claimed.

Depending on the subject of an appeal and how far the case proceeds, claimants could face fees ranging from £160 to £1,200.

Employees will have to pay £160 or £250 to lodge a claim with a further charge of either £230 or £950 if the case goes ahead.

Steve Collins, employment supervisor at the Kirklees Law Centre in Dewsbury, said: “People with valid grievances against their employers, such as unfair dismissal, redundancy, deductions from wages or holiday pay may be put off from lodging an appeal now these fees have been introduced.

“What hasn’t been publicised much is that people on welfare benefits such as income support, income-based Job Seekers Allowance or income related Employment Support Allowance or Guarantee Credits will not have to pay these fees.

“People on low incomes may also be exempt or only have to pay part.

“The Law Centre can give advice about employment matters and potential claims to the employment tribunal for people living in Kirklees.”

The centre’s employment advice line – 01924 868147 – operates between 10am and 1pm and from 2pm to 4pm Mondays to Fridays.

Binnie Joshi Barr, Labour’s prospective parliamentary candidate for Colne Valley, called the introduction of fees “a huge step backwards in industrial relations”.

She said: “I strongly oppose these changes, which will hit vulnerable people and dramatically reduce workers’ rights.”

Employers’ group The Forum of Private Business welcomed the introduction of employment tribunal fees, but said it did not foresee them bringing about a major change in the system.

A spokesman said: “The annual cost of running the tribunal service currently stands at �84m and the government expects the introduction of fees will go some way to reduce this by encouraging alternative dispute resolution.

“The Forum of Private Business would like to see a reduction in the number of spurious claims lodged by disgruntled employees as a result of the introduction of fees.

“Vexatious claims to tribunals result in a huge cost to small businesses who are not only burdened with costly legal fees but see their businesses suffer in the process.

“Business owners are required to divert attention away from the day to day running of the company and the laborious process of being taken to a tribunal acts as a disincentive to recruitment, inhibiting the growth of small businesses across the UK.”