“If you’re a customer, you have the reassurance of knowing that any tip or service charge that you do leave goes to the staff.”
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has signed a new law to protect employees’ tips and service charges.
Taking effect from December, the law means that if an employee is in receipt of a tip, gratuity or service charge that the money cannot be used to make up their basic wages.
Instead, it must go to the worker and be “distributed fairly among staff”.
In a video posted to Twitter, Varadkar said the change will benefit those who work in pubs, restaurants and cafes, as well as taxi drivers and delivery workers and those who offer personal services such as beauticians.
“If you’re a customer, you have the reassurance of knowing that any tip or service charge that you do leave goes to the staff,” he added.
“Also, there’s now a requirement that employers display prominently a tips policy so that everyone knows what happens to money that is left as a tip.”
The Tánaiste said the new law will come into force ahead of the Christmas period on 1 December and is part of a number of steps the Government is taking to “enhance workers’ rights, pay terms and conditions in Ireland”.
I have signed a new law to protect employees’ tips and service charges. Comes into force on Dec 1. pic.twitter.com/kmUD7fMmMH
— Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) October 31, 2022
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