A cleaner using a mop

Cleaning taskforce

The taskforce was an industry-led action group, formed by the Commission to improve working conditions for cleaning operatives across the sector. The taskforce was chaired by Commissioner Caroline Waters and came to a close in March 2017.

Cleaning taskforce commitment

We are committed to improving working conditions for cleaning operatives across the cleaning industry by:

  • promoting employers’ compliance with employment law and improving workers’ understanding of employment rights
  • improving the impact of public and private sector procurement of cleaning services on employment conditions in the sector
  • encouraging the respectful treatment of cleaning operatives.

What did the taskforce do?

It developed practical and cost-effective solutions to the concerns raised in the 2014 Invisible Workforce report.

Three taskforce working groups developed the products you can download:

Members and supporters

The following organisations were involved in the taskforce:

  • British Cleaning Council
  • British Hospitality Association
  • British Institute of Cleaning Science
  • British Institute of Facilities Management
  • Business Services Association
  • Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS)
  • Facilicom
  • Go-Ahead Group plc
  • Health and Safety Executive
  • i-Clean
  • Interserve
  • ISS
  • KPMG
  • LCC Support Services Ltd
  • Living Wage Foundation
  • London Cleaning Academy
  • Mitie
  • NHS Property Services
  • RMT
  • Sedex
  • Servest
  • Sodexo
  • Tesco
  • The Building Futures Group
  • TUC
  • Unison
  • UNITE
  • Xenon Group

The taskforce was also supported by the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply, the Latin American Women's Rights Service and the Association of Building Cleaning Service Providers (ABCD).

Review of the cleaning taskforce

Last updated: 25 Jul 2017