The European Commission has issued a consultation document related to its Quality Jobs Roadmap, with a view to addressing Europe's shrinking working age population by increasing labour market participation. The idea is to ensure that top-quality jobs are on offer, which provide fair wages, high standards for health & safety, good working conditions, access to quality training and fair job transitions for workers and the self-employed - and how we move forward could have a serious impact on our industry and the way in which it operates. You can have your say here

Uni Europa, (the Global property services union) and EFCI, (the European Cleaning & Facility Services Industry trade body), have already responded, issuing a joint statement saying that daytime cleaning should be made a flagship initiative since it will help address the issues of poor working time quality, low pay and limited recognition, by providing more predictable schedules, visibility at work and improved work-life balance, along with reducing the vast amounts of energy currently wasted by keeping the lights on at night for cleaning. I agree with all they say along with their argument that EU guidance on public procurement should be updated to ensure that it’s less price-driven and that it encompasses cleaner-friendly working hours. The statement is below for you to read in full. 

Our ‘race to the bottom’ when it comes to negotiating contracts became a bugbear of mine when I joined this industry some 35 years ago… it’s become more-so over time as I’ve learned just how crucial good cleaning is to global health and prosperity. I quickly moved from the ‘anyone can clean’ group to the ‘if all the world’s cleaners & their employers downed tools, life as we know it would cease to function’ group! And I won’t be going back… 

Joanne Gilliard, CEO of Jangro, (the largest network of independent janitorial distributors in the UK and Ireland) sums it up beautifully in my view, saying: "Cleaning is a vital, frontline service that underpins public health and safe workplaces. Yet for too long, the people delivering these essential services have remained undervalued, invisible and vulnerable to poor working conditions. Championing quality jobs and daytime cleaning isn't just about improving shift patterns, it's a real opportunity to embed dignity, fairness and visibility into the heart of our workplaces. By cleaning in plain sight, we raise the profile of our industry and its professionals - and we foster cultures where hygiene is prioritised, not overlooked. But visibility alone is not enough. We must back this cultural shift with meaningful investment in fair pay, safe working conditions, and training and development. This is what ethical employment looks like - not a tick-box exercise, but a genuine commitment to responsible practices that support long-term retention and pride in the role." Perfectly put Jo!