UNIONS are stepping up their campaign for hospitality workers to keep tips amid expectations that promised action will not be included in next week’s Queen’s Speech.

Ministers have previously said plans will be announced to ensure that staff, including those in restaurants, can keep their tips.

The aim is to prevent employers taking a share of tips and was first put forward by Sajid Javid when he was business secretary in 2016.

There was speculation that the measure would be included in an Employment Bill, but it is not expected to be in the Queen’s Speech on May 10.

Unite union general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Every year this government promises action to ensure fair tipping — and then does precisely nothing to deliver on that promise.

“A hospitality worker can lose thousands of pounds a year from their earnings when the employer refuses to hand over their tips.” 

Earlier this year, a Unite campaign succeeded in getting Pizza Express to scrap a policy that handed a larger proportion of waiting staff’s tips to higher-paid kitchen workers.

Ms Graham said: “In a sector notorious for long hours and low wages, tipping misappropriation is another abuse. If the government won’t fix it, Unite will.”

The TUC said some of the lowest-paid and most vulnerable workers in Britain would be betrayed if employment rights are not enhanced.

General secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Fair tips are just the thin end of the wedge. Without new legislation workers will be denied a host of other vital rights and protections.

“These include fair notice for shifts and payment for cancelled shifts, flexible working rights, and protection from pregnancy discrimination.”