Antigua and Barbuda Considers Legislation Against “No-Tip” Policy At Hotels

The government of Antigua and Barbuda is weighing new legislation to enable tipping rights for hospitality workers.

This follows Prime Minister Gaston Browne’s recent critique of Sandals Resorts no-tip policy.

Browne has described the policy as “exploitative” and likened it to “plantation behavior,” alleging that Sandals is blocking workers from benefiting directly from tips.

The policy requires employees to deposit any tips into the Sandals Foundation, a move Browne argues deprives workers of additional income that could substantially improve their standard of living. A Sandals Official said it is untrue that tips go to the foundation which is funded by charitable donations.

The proposed legislative change aims to ensure that hospitality staff, who often rely on gratuities to supplement their wages, can retain tips given by guests.

Sandals has faced mounting criticism from the Browne administration for its strict policy, which some argue undermines the cultural norms and economic structure of the hospitality industry, where tipping is a customary part of service.

If enacted, the new law would mandate that all resort employees be allowed to keep their tips without penalty, potentially setting a precedent for tipping rights within the Caribbean’s tourism sector.

This legislative proposal is part of a series of moves by the government to address what Browne has called “greedy” and “colonial” practices by Sandals and other resorts, reinforcing Antigua and Barbuda’s stance against policies that, in his words, “treat the country like a plantation.”

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