Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The budget provides for increases for the HSA and the WRC next year. When it comes to the WRC, the budget provides for the recruitment of an extra ten inspectors in addition to replacing those who retire. We can build on this in the years ahead.

Another matter I am progressing is legislation on tips and gratuities. I hope to get this legislation done in the next couple of months. It will outlaw the practice of using tips or gratuities to top up wages. It is already illegal in respect of the minimum wage but not illegal when it comes to higher rates of pay. It will also ensure that electronic tips and gratuities, which are much more common these days, have to be divided fairly and equitably among the staff. As well as this, it will provide transparency to customers so they will know what the policy is on tips and service charges, how they are managed and to whom they go.

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