I confess, I don't agree with tipping. I think employers should pay a living wage and by forcing patrons to tip, it enables them to keep it low to increase their profit margins. So when going abroad, I'm faced with a troubling dilemma.
In the UK, as with the rest of Europe, we're lucky. We have minimum wage, a welfare system, free healthcare and employment laws. And even with all this legislation to stop the exploitation of workers, it still happens. Bad, Las Iguanas and friends.
It's because of this, I'm reluctant to tip. Living in the world's fifth largest economy and a paragon of progressive, egaliterian, free, democratic and just society, there should be no reason for this practise to exist.
When travelling outside of Europe, however, it's a different story. The workforce is paid a pittance because there is no law to the contrary. And there are no laws to protect them. So what you get are waiters, bar staff, guides, bellhops, drivers and beauticians who rely on wages, especially those from rich tourists.
Your, what normally equates to, pennies could make all the difference to the Cuban family who live six to a room and earn just $25 a month each. It could be everything to a Chinese man who has to pay for his rural mother's medical bills. And a couple of rupees could feed one dancing boy for a week. Or that American bar lady who works three jobs just to make rent.
I'm not one for inflicting my European idologies onto other countries and cultures. I think most of the world had enough of that through colonialism. While imperlism bought death and exploitation, it also bought law and justice. But most countries haven't gone far enough. And most are either not required to, don't want to or can't afford to.
It's not for me to tell the Filipino government that their laws are draconian and they could improve the quality of life for millions (and possibly overting the need to enter the drugs business) just by paying people enough.
I also don't think I could stand up to the likes of Gap, Nike and Apple when lobbying governments to ban sweatshops. I mean, it's not like my voice of one would make any difference anyway.
I would much rather pay a little a extra to someone working their proverbials off, than someone who is stalking you down the street to buy their toot. I would much rather add on a few kip to someone who's looked after me than give to a con-man. And I'd much rather put my leftover shrapnel in the haggard paper cup of a beggar than drop into the collection buckets in the airport.
It's not much to you, but it's a lot to people who don't have the luxary of robust HR laws and, a free and independent press.
