البقشيش

Welcome to BBC Xtra English. Today Doug and Somaya are talking about tips.

What do you think happens to the tips you leave in a restaurant or bar?

Most people think tips should be shared out between the staff as a bonus for good service.

But sometimes tips are being used to top up low wages, and bring the pay of staff up to the level of the minimum wage.

Editor Peter Harden thinks that tipping should be ditched. He says the British are embarrassed by it. He says Britain is "not a great nation of tippers".

He also says that serving staff have a more lowly status in the UK than in other countries in Europe. In many other countries service is included in the bill.

One speaker says that the situation can be resolved easily; by a change to the law governing the minimum wage.

What happens in your country? Do people have to leave tips or is it optional?

ما هو المتعارف عليه في بلدك؟ هل يجب دفع البقشيش أم أنها مسألة اختيارية؟ أكتب لنا بالإنجليزية.

tips
البقشيش

a bonus
مكافأة

good service
خدمة جيدة

to top up
رفع / زيادة

low wages
أجور متدنية

the minimum wage
الحد الأدنى للأجور

ditched
يلغى

lowly status
وضع سيء / لا يحظى بالاحترام أو التقدير

service
خدمة

أنقر هنا للاستماع للكلمات

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