Newsroom
Some restaurant and café workers in Cyprus are raising the alarm over a shady practice happening behind the scenes: tips meant for staff are being kept by employers or used to top up wages, according to complaints made to MPs.
While employees have named specific businesses and bosses involved, many are too afraid to file an official complaint, worried they could lose their jobs or because they’re unsure whether any law would actually protect them.
The problem hits hardest for low-paid workers, especially those earning minimum wage, who say that tips can make a real difference at the end of the month.
The issue came to light through reports made to AKEL MP George Koukoumas, who is now pushing for a new law that would make sure tips go directly to the staff who earned them.
“People leave tips thinking they’re rewarding good service,” one worker told Koukoumas. “But customers don’t realize those tips often never reach us.”
For some, tips are a lifeline
The problem hits hardest for low-paid workers, especially those earning minimum wage, who say that tips can make a real difference at the end of the month.
“When you’re on basic pay, even a few extra euros from tips can help with groceries or bills,” one waitress said. “To have that taken away feels unfair, and honestly, demoralizing.”
What’s more, workers say customers would likely be upset to learn their tips are going to the business owner’s pocket, rather than the person who served them.
What the proposed law would do
The new proposal, put forward by Koukoumas, aims to protect workers’ right to keep their tips and make sure customers know where their money is going.
If passed, the law would
- Make it illegal for employers to withhold, deduct, or delay payment of tips.
- Require businesses to keep a clear record of all tips and how they’re shared.
- Make it mandatory for employers to clearly inform customers, both in print and online, that their tips go to staff — not to the business itself.
The law would apply to restaurants, cafés, hotels, and delivery services, where tipping is common and often expected.
Workers need protection
For now, many workers feel caught in a tough spot, unable to speak out without risking their jobs. Koukoumas hopes the proposed law will not only clarify their rights but also empower them to stand up for what they’re owed.
“The point of a tip is to reward good service,” he said. “That reward belongs to the worker, not the employer.”
Until then, workers say they’ll keep doing their jobs, hoping for change — and hoping customers start asking who really gets the tip.
