Everybody can play a part in ending the exploitation of contract cleaning staff who are often isolated and unaware of their legal rights, SIPTU said today.
SIPTU’s appeal for all workers to ensure a reputable cleaning company was used in their workplace was made at a seminar on the exploitation of immigrant workers. The seminar was run as part of the Anti-Racist Workplace Week – an initiative organised by the Equality Authority with the social partners (IBEC, ICTU and CIF).
SIPTU Regional Secretary, Mr Mike Jennings said: "Every morning and evening, an ‘invisible army’ takes on the job of cleaning our offices, shops, factories and canteens.
"But many of these workers (Irish and immigrant) are experiencing some form of exploitation, often involving breaches of the law."
SIPTU has, he said, gathered evidence where contract cleaners are forced to work for less the minimum hourly wage (£5.41 per hour), denied statutory annual leave and public holiday premiums, refused overtime rates, have illegal deductions taken from their wages and are threatened with eviction from their homes or dismissal for objecting to company practices.
Over the week industry sectors have added their weight to the anti-racism. Earlier this week, IBEC urged employers to take the lead in preventing racism in the workplace through training schemes and implementing company integration policies.
Today also saw Dublin Bus launch a Cultural Awareness Action Planas part of its efforts to encourage multiculturalism within the company.
Dublin Bus employs staff from over 40 different countries. It called on all staff to be aware of their own attitudes, and to work effectively with people who do not share the same background, experiences and self-identification.