Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (Respondents) v Stringer and others (Appellants)

This case involved appeals by employees against a decision of the Court of Appeal in relation to claims for holiday pay. The appellants argued that the Court of Appeal had erred in holding that claims for sums due under the Working Time Regulations 1998 could not be brought under the Employment Rights Act 1996. The central issue was whether sums due under the Working Time Regulations could be considered "wages" within the meaning of the Employment Rights Act. The House of Lords held that the claims could be brought under the Employment Rights Act, finding that the sums due under the Working Time Regulations were indeed "wages" within the meaning of the Act. This conclusion was reached on the basis of the ordinary meaning of the words used in the Act, as well as the principle of equivalence under EU law, which requires that national remedies for breaches of EU rights must be no less favourable than those available in similar domestic proceedings. The House of Lords allowed the appeals, setting aside the order of the Court of Appeal and restoring the order of the Employment Appeal Tribunal.