EMPLOYERS were ordered to pay record compensation of over £150,000 in awards to employees and fines for breaches of the Employment Law in the year to June.

The record amount of awards and fines were handed out despite the fact that the number of applications to the Jersey Employment Tribunal fell by about a third as compared to the same period the year before. The annual report of the tribunal was released this week and shows that it received 164 applications during the 12 months from July 2007 until June 2008.

It awarded employees a total of £142,339 in cases that were adjudicated during the year. The level of fines meted out for breaches of the legislation was £9,350. The level of applications was down by 66 as compared to the previous 12 months but the majority of the awards were for unfair dismissal.

In the year from 2006 to 2007 awards made to employees totalled £104,806 and fines were £2,150. In the 12 months before that awards totalling £83,539 were made and fines were £1,900. The amounts paid to employees may fall when the next report is produced. At present the tribunal cannot reduce an award on the basis of an employee’s actions or conduct leading up to the dismissal. Social Security Minister Paul Routier put an amendment to the States, which will change the position when it comes into force next year.

Pictured: Employment tribunal board members Tim Langlois, David Le Quesne and Stewart Mourant