Independent launches fair tips campaign

The Independent has launched a campaign to improve the treatment of the country's 231,845 waiters and waitresses - and ensure that customers know where their money is going when they leave a tip.

The paper's Fair Tips Fair Pay campaign sets out three guidelines for fair treatment of waiting staff and asks the Government to "introduce legislation to end the widespread unfair tipping practices adopted by many of Britain's restaurants".

The report revealed that restaurant chains like Carluccio's, Café Rouge, Chez Gerard, Strada and Café Uno all pay their staff less than the minimum wage and use customers' tips to make up the balance in their employees' pay.

The three guidelines are:

1) All restaurants should operate a fair, clear and transparent policy for distributing service charges and gratuities to its staff.

2) All restaurants should display their policy on service charges and gratuities clearly on all of the menus.

3) All waiting staff should be guaranteed a basic salary of at least the minimum wage, excluding gratuities.