The private members’ bill on tips was introduced by Conservative MP Dean Russell after a wider employment bill, which was intended to include the new rules, was delayed. It will make it illegal for employers to withhold tips and service charges from staff and will give them the right to see an employer’s tip record in order to take them to an employment tribunal. A new statutory code of practice is also to be developed to provide businesses and staff with advice on how advice should be distributed. The government, which formally backed the bill at its second reading in parliament on Friday, where it was voted down by MPs, said it would benefit more than 2 million workers. However, Unite, which has pushed for legislation to protect restaurant workers, said it was not sure the new rules would be enough. The union said proper reform would require scrapping the controversial tronc system, under which a committee of staff members votes on how tips paid on a card are shared. Unions also want tips distributed through payroll. Dave Turnbull, Unite’s national hospitality officer, said: “This bill has been a long time coming, but it certainly cannot be the last word in protecting tipping. As a union that has been fighting for reform for years, it was worker pressure that brought even this first step towards change. It is vital that whatever is approved has the full confidence of the hospitality workforce. “Unfortunately, at this stage, we are not confident that these measures will address the problems with tipping practices across the hospitality sector.” Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, which represents hundreds of restaurants, bars and pubs, said: “Tipping and service charges provide a significant and welcome boost to hospitality workers’ cash. We are therefore pleased to see that this proposed legislation recommends that employers set out a fair distribution policy for staff, which means that everyone will benefit.” The plan to crack down on restaurants keeping tips for staff was first proposed by the government more than five years ago and was only promised in September last year. But hopes had faded that the new rules would be introduced after a second year of delays for the Jobs bill, which was first promised in December 2019 after Boris Johnson won the general election and claimed as a way to improve workers’ rights in the UK after Brexit.