Cleaning Industry APPG Launches to Recognise Cleaners as Key Workers

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• Cleaning Industry APPG Launches to Recognise Cleaners as Key Workers

03 February 2021

The proposed All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the cleaning and hygiene sector has been inaugurated.  

A total of 53 MPs and three Members of the House of Lords have joined the group. Co-chairs Nigel Mills, MP for Amber Valley, and The Baroness Greengross OBE, former director of Age Concern, have both been elected.

Members of six parties are taking part - the Conservative, Labour, Scottish National Party, Democratic Unionist Party, Plaid Cymru and Liberal Democrats – and participants will include some of the most prominent parliamentarians in the country, such as the former Chancellor, the Rt Hon The Lord Lamont of Lerwick and the former CEO of Mitie, The Baroness McGregor-Smith.

The British Cleaning Council is sponsoring the APPG, and Chair Paul Thrupp and Deputy Chair Jim Melvin addressed the group at the inauguration.  

Picture: a photograph of Jim Melvin

Ensuring the Cleaning Sector’s Voice is Heard

The APPG will represent the interests of the cleaning and hygiene sector in Parliament and influence MPs, ministers and government. The BCC wants the APPG to put the status of the sector’s operatives as key and essential workers, and their priority for COVID-19 vaccination, at the top of its agenda, in recognition of their role fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

Paul Thrupp said: “This is a historic day for our industry. The establishment of the APPG is a major development for the cleaning and hygiene sector. I’m delighted that we have achieved this.  

“The APPG will help ensure policy-makers are aware of the vital work we do and ensure the sector’s voice is heard in decisions that affect it. An industry of such large scale and huge importance as ours needs to have this kind of representation in Parliament. 

“I’m particularly pleased that so many MPs have agreed to give the group their backing. Such widespread backing will ensure it is highly-credible and influential.”

The BCC has been working alongside former MP for Stirling, Stephen Kerr, to support the establishment of the APPG, as well as encouraging member organisations and cleaning and hygiene companies to lobby their MPs to join.

What Are The APPG's Aims?

• Recognising that all cleaning and hygiene staff should and must be considered key and essential workers.
• The creation of a recognised and universal training accreditation for cleaning and hygiene within the UK.
• Promotion of the real Living Wage on the basis that a fair day’s work merits a fair day’s pay and is a recognition of training and skills achieved. 
• Highlight wellbeing and mental health awareness as part of an employee care program and commit the industry to full compliance of the Modern Slavery Act, within the UK cleaning industry and its supply chain.
• Accelerating the industry’s progress to the UK government's sustainability and environmental targets and contribute positively towards the government's 2050 zero emissions target.
• Seeking parliamentary support in respect of the EU Regulations effect on the distribution and in particular availability for the Northern Ireland market.
• Ensuring product safety and the elimination of unregulated products with unsubstantiated claims.
• Engagement on a green recovery.
• The general elimination of carbon and emissions.
• Assessing the change immigration rules have on the sector
• The impact on people’s well being as we see the wider introduction of automation within the industry.

Picture: a photograph of a person holding a bucket of cleaning equipment

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 03 February 2021

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