(This note is not part of the Order)
This Order increases, from 6th April 2017, the limits applying to certain awards of employment tribunals, and other amounts payable under employment legislation, as specified in the Schedule to the Order.
Under section 34(2) of the Employment Relations Act 1999 (“the 1999 Act”), if the retail prices index for September of a year is higher or lower than the index for the previous September, the Secretary of State is required to change the limits, by Order, by the percentage of the increase or decrease (rounded up or down as specified in section 34(3) of the 1999 Act). The increases made by this Order reflect the increase in the retail prices index of 2.0% from September 2015 to September 2016.
The increases apply where the event giving rise to the entitlement to compensation or other payments occurred on or after 6th April 2017. Limits previously in force under the Employment Rights (Increase of Limits) Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/288) are preserved by article 4 of this Order in relation to cases where the relevant event was before 6th April 2017.
A full impact assessment has not been produced for this Order because section 34 of the 1999 Act provides for indexation according to a pre-determined formula linked to the retail prices index.