Cabinet to Introduce Legislation Allowing Hotel Workers to Collect Tips
The government of Antigua and Barbuda is moving to amend legislation that will allow hotel workers to collect tips separately from service charges, a decision aimed at ensuring fairer distribution of earnings in the hospitality sector.
During the post-Cabinet press briefing, Chief of Staff Ambassador Lionel Hurst announced that the Cabinet has agreed to introduce the necessary legal changes in Parliament. Currently, many hotels—especially all-inclusive resorts—apply a service charge system that is distributed among all staff, including those who do not directly interact with guests, such as cooks, cleaners, and maintenance workers.
A Push for Fair Compensation
The new legislation would make it mandatory for hotels to allow guests to leave tips for specific employees who provide direct service, ensuring they benefit from their individual efforts. Hurst described the current system as unfair, arguing that removing tipping restrictions would create better incentives for workers in the industry.
“This change is in line with the government’s commitment to improving conditions for hospitality workers, who are key contributors to the country’s tourism success,” Hurst explained.
Impact on the Hospitality Sector
The amendment is expected to:
- Increase earnings for hotel workers, particularly wait staff, bartenders, and front-facing employees.
- Improve service quality, as employees would have a direct financial incentive for providing excellent service.
- Ensure greater equity, preventing hotel owners from absorbing service charges meant for employees.
Industry Response
While the decision has been welcomed by many hospitality workers, some hotel operators may push back over concerns about how it could affect pricing structures and overall wage distribution within the sector.
With the Cabinet set to take the bill to Parliament soon, industry stakeholders will be closely watching how the new tipping structure will be implementedand what it will mean for both workers and guests.
