Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 18th April 2024 Issue no. 1110

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Cleaners paid too little, say Britons

A report by a leading think-tank has revealed that two-thirds of Britons would support government action to increase the wages of low-paid workers such as cleaners.

The report, produced by the Institute for Public Policy Research, concludes that government, business and trade unions should collude to make pay fairer for low-paid workers and reveals strong public opposition for the growing gap in pay between the top and bottom rungs within organisations.

According to the 2,337 members of the public who took part in the research, office cleaners - who on average earn £14,000 - should get a 19% pay rise. Additionally, a clear majority of 82% of those polled said the Government should act to redress growing pay inequalities in both the public and private sectors.

"These results chime with our own efforts to raise the status of cleaners, and show that in the public's mind, cleaners are not being paid fairly," says Mark Woodhead, Chairman of the British Cleaning Council. "People clearly want to see cleaners who work hard and do a decent job receive more recognition and better rewards.

"Fair pay and the value we place on cleaning is one of the major challenges we face as an industry, and it will be a key component of the debate on corporate social responsibility that will take place at our October conference."

The British Cleaning Council will hold a session on fair pay and the living wage at their annual conference in October. Tickets are available from the British Cleaning Council's website:

www.britishcleaningcouncil.org

9th June 2011