We have to look at our cleaners now
In the cleaning industry, where predominantly women work, employers are particularly called upon: Don't let employees slip into poverty!
Cleaner's Day
The order situation in the cleaning industry has changed. Companies are trying to save money at every turn – and the cleaning of commercial spaces often falls behind in economically difficult times. It is not uncommon for quality to be saved. Cheapest bidders benefit, price pressure determines competition. Companies are also saving on rents: In Vienna, for example, rented office space fell by almost a quarter between 2020 and 2024 – home office and desk sharing make it possible. Fewer square meters mean fewer areas that need to be cleaned.
Income below the poverty line
At the end of this development are the cleaners – two-thirds of them women. They are affected by cuts in hours. With a minimum gross hourly wage of around 12 euros, it is difficult to make a living anyway, especially since the industry offers almost only part-time jobs. If working hours are then reduced, poverty or financial dependence are inevitable. As a reminder, the poverty line in Austria is currently 1,661 euros net per month.
Share sales successes
Surveys in the industry journal reinigung Aktuell show that cleaning service providers were able to record an increase in sales of almost 9 percent in 2024 despite stagnating numbers of employees. From the point of view of the trade union vida – and in the sense of justice and social responsibility – it is clear: employees must share in this success. Fair pay is not only possible, but urgently needed to prevent working people from slipping into poverty.
Cleaner's Day on November 8
The trade union vida is campaigning for improvements in the cleaning industry all year round. For example, in collective bargaining negotiations, in personal discussions with works councils and employees, but also in the form of political actions. Every year, vida trade unionists organise political actions on Cleaners' Day on 8 November to bring the concerns of cleaners to the public. They demand respect, visibility and, above all, wages that you can live on.
For example, the vida regional organisations in Upper Austria and Styria set visible signs of appreciation. There, actions took place directly in companies all week before November 8 - for example in hospitals and shopping centers. Passers-by were able to leave personal messages of thanks to cleaners on a large roll of posters. The aim of the campaign was to bring the valuable, often unnoticed work of colleagues to the forefront and to make the social importance of the cleaning professions visible.
"The colleagues in the cleaning department are an important pillar of our working and social life. We want to underline this on the Day of the Cleaner and make people aware of this."
Birgit Grasel, vida regional spokesperson for Upper Austria in the Department of Facility Management
At the end of the action week, vida state chairman Gerhard Siegl and the works council chairmen of Dussmann, ISS, Strabag PFS and Securitas presented a huge joint poster.
"We not only want to draw attention to the important work of the cleaning industry during this action week, but are also committed to improving working conditions in the industry every day."
Gerhard Siegl, Regional Secretary of vida Upper Austria
Survey among cleaners
Do you work in cleaning and want to do something to improve your work?
Take part in our survey ! Together with the Vienna Chamber of Labour and the Research Institute, we are surveying how cleaners experience their working conditions and what improvements they would like to see. Participation takes only 5-10 minutes.
If you have any questions, please contact ifes@ifes.at!
