Joyce Watson AM has welcomed new rules which will make it illegal to use customers' tips to make up the minimum wage in Wales.
The UK Government has announced that from October this year, any tips left for staff will be in addition to basic pay.
Current rules mean restaurant and pub owners can use tips to make up the minimum wage.
Joyce said: “Hardworking staff in our restaurants and pubs deserve to be given tips on top of their basic wage.
“It is not fair on waiters and waitresses that certain establishments penalise them for their good service. They should be rewarded.
“Customers who leave a tip wish to give workers a bonus for their service and expect it be in addition to basic pay.
"This is another step towards Labour's vision of a fair future for all, where people receive fair pay for their hard work."
The National Minimum Wage was introduced in 1999. The current National Minimum Wage for adult workers is £5.73, the rate for 18-21 year olds is £4.77 and the rate for 16 and 17 year olds is £3.53. For more information click here.
Under rules in place since the introduction of the National Minimum Wage, where tips and gratuities are given directly to workers by customers and are retained by the workers without any other party being involved, they cannot count towards NMW payment. Where service charges, tips, gratuities and cover charges, are paid by the employer to the worker via the payroll then the tip can count towards national minimum wage pay.
Using tips to make up minimum wage level pay will be outlawed from October 1st 2009.
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