Employment Appeal Tribunal

The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) exists and derives its substantive powers from statute. It is a superior court of record and therefore of equivalent status to the High Court.

The EAT's central office is in London. Generally, hearings take place in London and Edinburgh.

The EAT has its own set of rules and also a Practice Direction (the 2023 Practice Direction [Archived] replaced the 2018 Practice Direction with effect from 30 September 2023).

Operation of the Employment Appeal Tribunal during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

The operation of the EAT was affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Several announcements were made concerning how the EAT would operate during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic (on 20 March 2020, 25 March 2020 (revised on 26 March 2020) and 9 April 2020) by the then President of the Employment Appeal Tribunal, Choudhury P.

In addition:

  1. the Employment Appeal Tribunal (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Rules 2020, SI 2020/415 (the EAT Amendment Rules 2020), made a temporary amendment to Rule 29 of the EAT Rules, with effect from 10 April 2020, to specify that an EAT hearing may be conducted by means of electronic communication

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PAC criticises Home Office over failures to tackle exploitation under skilled worker visa route

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has found that the Home Office failed to adequately address the risk of exploitation and non-compliance under the skilled worker visa scheme, particularly in the care sector. In its 4 July 2025 report, the PAC criticises the department for failing to prevent abuse following the scheme’s 2022 expansion to support adult social care, highlighting serious weaknesses in safeguarding, compliance monitoring, and tracking of visa expiries. While the expansion helped alleviate workforce shortages during the pandemic, it also exposed migrant workers to exploitation, with evidence submitted to the inquiry detailing cases of debt bondage, excessive working hours and poor living conditions. Despite early signs of abuse, the Home Office was slow to respond and does not hold data on how many visa holders have been identified as potential victims of modern slavery. The PAC further found that the department lacks key data on visa compliance, including whether workers leave the UK at the end of their stay, are re-sponsored, or remain unlawfully, and has not analysed exit check data since the route’s introduction. In light of the recent decision to end overseas recruitment for care workers, the PAC warns of further risks unless cross-government workforce strategies are coordinated and calls for a joined-up approach to tackling exploitation and addressing domestic skills shortages.

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