Employment Tribunals Act 1996 s.18B – Conciliation before institution of proceedings: other ACAS duties

(1)This section applies where—

(a)a person contacts ACAS requesting the services of a conciliation officer in relation to a matter that (if not settled) is likely to give rise to relevant proceedings against that person, and

(b)ACAS has not received information from the prospective claimant under section 18A(1).

(2)This section also applies where—

(a)a person contacts ACAS requesting the services of a conciliation officer in relation to a matter that (if not settled) is likely to give rise to relevant proceedings by that person, and

(b)the requirement in section 18A(1) would apply to that person but for section 18A(7).

(3)Where this section applies a conciliation officer shall endeavour to promote a settlement between the persons who would be parties to the proceedings.

(4)If at any time—

(a)the conciliation officer concludes that a settlement is not possible, or

(b)a conciliation officer comes under the duty in section 18A(3) to promote a settlement between the persons who would be parties to the proceedings,

the duty in subsection (3) ceases to apply at that time.

(5) In subsections (3) and (4) “settlement” means a settlement that avoids proceedings being instituted.

(6)Subsection (9) of section 18A applies for the purposes of this section as it applies for the purposes of that section.^F192]

Definitions used in section 18B 3

ACAS

“ACAS” means the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service,

Defined in s.42(1) · see it in the full Act

conciliation officer

“conciliation officer” means an officer designated by ACAS under section 211 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 ,

Defined in s.42(1) · see it in the full Act

relevant proceedings

(1) In this section and sections 18A to 18C “relevant proceedings” means employment tribunal proceedings—

(a)under section 66, 68A, 70C, 87, 137, 138, 145A, 145B, 146, 168, 168A, 168B, 169, 170, 174, 189 , 192 or 236A of, or paragraph 156 of Schedule A1 to, the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992,

(b)under section 11, 23, 27K, 27N, 34, 63I, 70, 70A, 80(1), 80H, 93, 111, 163 or 177 of the Employment Rights Act 1996, or under Part 5 or 6 of that Act,

(c)under section 11 ... or 24 of the National Minimum Wage Act 1998,

(d)under section 56 of the Pensions Act 2008,

(e)under section 120 or 127 of the Equality Act 2010,

(f)under regulation 11 of the Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations 1977,

(g)under article 6 of the Employment Tribunals Extension of Jurisdiction (England and Wales) Order 1994,

(h)under article 6 of the Employment Tribunals Extension of Jurisdiction (Scotland) Order 1994,

(i)under paragraph 2 of Schedule 2 to the Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations 1996,

(j)under regulation 30 of the Working Time Regulations 1998,

(k)under regulation 27 or 32 of the Transnational Information and Consultation of Employees Regulation 1999,

(l)under regulation 8 of the Part-time Workers (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2000,

(m)under regulation 7 or 9 of the Fixed-term Employees (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2002,

(n)under regulation 26 of the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Hours of Work) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/58).

(o)under regulation 15 of the Flexible Working (Procedural Requirements) Regulations 2002,

Defined in s.18(1) · see it in the full Act

Cases considering section 18B 3

3 more judgments, and what each says about section 18B, are in the case-law panel in the full Act.

Amendments and notes

1 notes from legislation.gov.uk

Amendments

F192Ss. 18A, 18B inserted (25.4.2013 for specified purposes, 6.4.2014 in so far as not already in force) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), ss. 7(1), 103(1)(i)(3); S.I. 2014/253, art. 3(a)(b) (with arts. 4, 5)