Some Remarks on the Exemption of the Fee for Complaint Regarding the Excessive Length of the Applicant’s Proceedings in Matters of Labour and Social Security Law. Gloss to the Resolution of the Supreme Court of 6 September 2006 (III SPZP 2/06)

Abstract

The appropriate system of reimbursement of the costs of proceedings and the institution of exemption from such costs both guarantee the real implementation of the right to court. In connection with the lack of explicit regulation in the Act of 17 June 2004 on complaints about the breach of the right to a trial within a reasonable time in practice, it becomes very important to determine whether it is possible to exempt an authorised entity (the complainant) from a fixed fee of complaint about excessive length of proceedings in matters of labour and social security law. In a resolution of 6 September 2006 (III SPZP 2/06) the Supreme Court stated that a complaint about excessive length of proceedings filed by the insured regarding the appeal examined by the Labour and Social Security Court of fees (Article 96 (1) (4) of the Act of 28 July 2005 on court costs in civil matters). This resolution confirms that in the indicated category of cases there is no obligation to pay the fee, and if it has been paid it is refundable. The position held by the Supreme Court in the above-mentioned resolution shall be accepted. When it comes to conclusion regarding de lege ferenda proposals, there is a need to make appropriate normative changes and introduce to the Act of 17 June 2004 on complaints about the breach of the right to a trial within a reasonable time a suitable regulation that would reflect the right fee exemption, as mentioned above.