ADVICE & OPINION
SOCIAL - BLOG
18 JULY 2022
BLOG FROM JIM MELVIN, CHAIRMAN BRITISH CLEANING COUNCIL
SUE GRAY REPORT
SHOWS LACK
OF RESPECT IN
GOVERNMENT FOR
CLEANING STAFF
The recent shocking findings of the Sue
Gray report into Downing Street parties
showed that we still have some way to go
until we achieve the recognition the cleaning
sector and sta deserve – particularly, it would
seem, within Government.
In the report, Sue Gray wrote: “I found that
some sta had witnessed or been subjected to
behaviours at work which they had felt concerned
about but at times felt unable to raise properly.
“I was made aware of multiple examples of a
lack of respect and poor treatment of security and
cleaning sta . This was unacceptable.”
It is absolutely appalling to hear that cleaning
sta were being treated with such contempt by
people who sit within Government.
Our cleaning and hygiene teams are
hardworking, professional and deserve to be
respected in their vital work, and certainly how
the people concerned would expect to be treated.
What made matters worse was that this
happened during the COVID pandemic, when
cleaning and hygiene sta were on the frontline in
the fight against the virus and putting themselves
at risk to maintain high standards of hygiene and
to ensure that key workers and the public were
safe and well during the pandemic.
Throughout the cleaning industry, the demand
for increased standards of hygiene during
the pandemic has combined with severe sta
shortages to drive many colleagues close to burn
out.
When cleaning sta needed and deserved
support and recognition from the Government,
they were treated with a dismissive arrogance
which is also a cultural concern to be
acknowledged and resolved.
The Prime Minister has said he was “shocked” at
the findings of the report and it was a “disgrace”
for sta to be treated in that way. However, the
Prime Minister who also thanked cleaning sta in
Parliament during the pandemic itself should not
simply “expect those responsible to apologise”
and make sure that they individually and
collectively do so!
I think this incident casts new light on the
BCC’s long-running campaign for recognition for
cleaning and hygiene sta .
Over the course of the pandemic, there was
more public understanding of the vital role of
cleaning sta and I saw myself how many clients
became more compassionate to their cleaning
sta .
But a er hearing of the contemptible arrogance
recorded by the Sue Gray report, it is clear that
Jim Melvin, Chairman British Cleaning Council
not everyone respects and values the work of
the cleaning and hygiene sector. The social
acceptance and cultural issue with cleaning sta
also sees us being dismissed incorrectly as low
skilled by The Home O ice.
Despite lobbying from us, immigration rules
which changed last year classified sta as low
skilled, making it much harder for us to recruit
overseas sta which added to the severe sta
shortages the sector faces now.
We have people leaving the country and not
being replaced, unless of course it is for fruit
picking, poultry and truck driving.
To be clear, the Government were correct to
make such exceptions but why not also include
hygiene, especially now as we continue to come
out of a global pandemic?
The argument that UK nationals will take these
roles is also now redundant as the Government’s
own employment figures acknowledge there are
more vacancies than people!
Sadly, because we are not able or allowed to
fill these vacancies, not only are the Government
losing out on funding from tax and NIC, but there
is arguably harm both to the economy and the
Government’s aims in getting people back into
the workplace with confidence in the cleanliness
and hygiene around them.
Our industry is vital in returning to normality
safely and hygienically, as well as helping to stop
any future variant or pandemic.
Shortly a er the Sue Gray report came out, I
wrote to the Cabinet Secretary, Simon Case, to
formally ask for a meeting to review the content
and the steps that have been taken since.
We have had a reply advising that we will shortly
receive a response. We have subsequently politely
replied as we did not ask for a response and
requested a meeting instead, which is important
given the huge increase in media attention
around the treatment of cleaning sta in Downing
Street.
I hope and expect that there will be a response
and that we will finally start the process of
informing the Government about the true worth
of the cleaning and hygiene sector and its sta .
@theCIOB During our Members’ Forum this
week we are also looking back at what we
achieved in 2021 and what goals we set for
the future. You can read our Annual Review
and Accounts 2021 to see our progress and
what we are setting out to achieve this year.
https://orlo.uk/jjklR
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HFHomeWorking
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cindyhermsen CEO at the Global Alliance
of Facility Management Innovators 50 top
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@JohnAmaechi The world of work is
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/jjklR
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