No Germany doesn't count because it has laws against shit wages, so it essentially has a minimum wage it's just not set at a certain number. They're introducing a minimum wage to avoid this confusion in the law.
I agree hotel maids etc should be paid more both sides of the pond. I have never stated otherwise.
Tips here are usually considered to be roughly 10% and they're not taxed. So the 20% taxed tip with a lower base rate of pay probably isn't that much more (if at all).
Lol, so, so far. Because I'm European, I'm a cheapskate, I don't give a shit about service workers (despite being one myself) and now I'm being self righteous for merely explaining that pay might explain the difference in tipping. Lol you're a joker.