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15.06.2025 09:00

Trade unions JHL and PAM: Cleaning must not be tendered at the expense of workers

Emphasising low prices in tendering has led to increasing pressure and rush in cleaning work. Ignoring cleaning quality and companies’ social responsibility leads to unfair competition between service providers, the unions highlight on International Justice Day for Cleaners.

Cleaning services for both public and private sectors are being tendered more and more frequently. Tenders are often won by the company offering the lowest price. However, the sought-after efficiency often remains only on paper, as workers are forced to cope with unrealistic schedules. A low price results in lower quality and overburdened employees.

— Emphasising price in tenders leads to increased workloads, poorer working conditions and reduced well-being among workers, which in turn leads to more sick leave, says Annika Rönni-Sällinen, President of PAM.

Frequent tendering also increases job insecurity and reduces the attractiveness of the sector. In many cases, employees do not know if their jobs will continue under new contracts.

— Workers risk losing their jobs. Even if employment continues with a new employer, the transition can cause significant stress. For instance, in the private sector, part-time hours may be cut, and holiday accruals and annual leave entitlements may reset, Rönni-Sällinen adds.

— Tendering in the cleaning sector must be fair and transparent. Public procurement decisions can have far-reaching consequences. Municipalities and wellbeing services counties are responsible for ensuring service continuity and security of supply, but tenders do not always take these factors into account. That’s why publicly owned in-house companies should not be privatised, says Håkan Ekström, President of JHL.

Cleaning is skilled work – not just a cost to be minimised

Modern professional cleaning is highly skilled work that is continuously developed and monitored through various quality standards. When resourcing is cut to the bare minimum, even small disruptions can paralyse service delivery.

The sector needs more responsible procurement practices that also consider workers’ rights, terms of employment, and the long-term quality of services. When quality and social responsibility are ignored in tendering, competition between providers becomes unfair. Labour costs make up roughly 85% of the total cost of cleaning services.

— Placing more emphasis on quality strengthens the position of companies that operate fairly and responsibly—those that, for example, comply with collective agreements and prioritise environmental concerns, Rönni-Sällinen says.

Guidance is available for tendering cleaning services

Support and guidance are available for organisations involved in tendering cleaning services. PAM and JHL contributed to a buyer’s guide for cleaning services published in 2021. The guide is available free of charge and supports procurement in both the private and public sectors.

If an underpriced winning tender results in unrealistic targets for workers or even breaches of collective agreements, it is important to report these to one’s trade union. Being a union member is crucial for preventing exploitation, as legal disputes pose significant risks to employees without the protection and support of a union.

— We must ensure that tenders take into account workers’ well-being, working conditions and pay. It’s time to raise the voice of the cleaning sector and make sure their rights are not overlooked, Ekström adds.

Cleaning professionals look after the environments of all people living in Finland—at workplaces and in public spaces. Their rights must be protected.

Justice Day for Cleaners is a movement that began in the United States in 1985 with the goal of improving the working conditions and terms of employment for people working in the cleaning sector as well as increasing appreciation and visibility for the sector. The movement has its roots in workers organising into trade unions, which has improved the terms and conditions of cleaners’ work.

Keywords:

property services sector

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