NI sector staff ‘denied fair tips laws’

From Tuesday 1 October, employees in the hospitality sector in England, Scotland and Wales will have legal protections to receive all tips paid by customers in pubs, bars and restaurants.

Unite has demanded Stormont offer the same rights to workers in Northern Ireland and said the legislation provides workers with a legal entitlement to all gratuities without deductions or delays, paid on a monthly basis.

Unite said although the new legislation will apply throughout the UK, no legislation has been introduced by the Stormont executive, meaning hospitality employees in the country will be denied the same protections.

No excuse​

Unite the union general secretary Sharon Graham said: “It is completely unacceptable that fair tips laws that Unite has fought to win since 2007 have been introduced by Westminster but not by the Stormont executive.

“Hospitality workers in Northern Ireland should have the same rights and entitlement to receive fair tips as do their colleagues in Great Britain.

“There can be no excuse for the failure to provide workers in Northern Ireland with the same rights.”

Reliance on tips​

Lead regional officer for hospitality in Northern Ireland, Neil Moore said, “Stormont’s failure to implement fair tips legislation has left bosses free to dip their hand in the tips when it suits them.

“This is made all the worse alongside endemic low pay in the sector, leaving many hospitality workers relying on their tips to get home safely or even to pay for basic essentials.

“There’s no reason why fair tips cannot be immediately delivered in Northern Ireland. Hospitality workers need these rights to be legally enforceable now.”

The Northern Ireland Assembly has been approached for comment.