by Our News Desk

RESTAURANT workers blasted government plans yesterday aimed at capping the amount bosses can deduct from tips intended for waiting staff in spurious admin fees.

Union Unite said it was pleased the government was taking seriously the problems caused for restaurant workers by their employers keeping a proportion of the tips they earn.

But the union urged Business Secretary Sajid Javid not to introduce a system that will make it lawful for an employer to pocket a proportion of staff’s tips.

Mr Javid announced the investigation after a series of protests by Unite forced the issue into the political spotlight.

Unite officer Dave Turnbull said: “We are pleased that the government has woken up to this scandal, but we would ask that they think carefully about an effective solution.

“Capping admin fees will simply legitimise the underhand practice of restaurants taking a slice of staff tips and be near enough impossible to enforce.

“When customers eat at the likes of Pizza Express, they give tips in the expectation that all of it will go to staff and not be pocketed by management.”

Last week Giraffe scrapped its 10 per cent admin fee on tips, joining chains like Restaurant Group and Jamie Oliver’s to play fair with their staff.

“Rather than tinkering around the edges, Sajid Javid should be looking to scrap what is effectively a tax by restaurant bosses on money meant for the pockets of hardworking staff.

“The principle ought to be that the tips go to those who have earned them, plain and simple.”