Bars and restaurants will soon face new rules around how they handle tips.
Premises will have to display their tips policy, and whether the money goes directly to staff.
New laws approved by Cabinet will also mean tips can't be put towards paying the basic wage of employees.
Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty says the government is bringing forward its own laws, after a number of bills from the opposition.
She explained: "It is a gratuity from the patron of an orgnaisation to reward good service: we are proposing to pass a piece of legislation to amend the Payment Wages Act to ensure that tips cannot form part of anybody's wages.
"That it is what it is - as in a gift or a gratuity between a patron body and a service.
"And also we've agreed a code of practice with the industry with regard to transparency of the tips policy of each indiviual organisation".
