Is this a vision of the future? Britain’s new points-based immigration system will start in less a year. It is likely to bring seismic change to the cleaning sector. Employers who are not ready for this may find themselves putting on their marigolds and mopping their own floors from 2021.

A new immigration system

Now that the UK is out of the EU, the future of ‘Brexit Britain’ is starting to take shape. The Government has announced its proposals for a new points-based immigration system, to be implemented from 1 January 2021, less than a year away. This will lead to a significant change to how immigration works in the UK.

In particular, the new immigration system will not allow visas for “low skilled” workers earning less than £25,600 per year. According to the Government’s own analysis, some 70% of EU Citizens living in the UK today would not qualify under the new rules – so it will mean a significant change in approach from 2021.

This presents a huge challenge for the cleaning sector, particularly in London.

The cleaning sector in London will change

According to the British Cleaning Council’s most recent research (2019), there are 129,000 cleaners working in London, and well over half were born outside of the UK. The city’s cleaning sector relies heavily on overseas workers. When this supply of labour is cut off in 2021, it will undoubtedly have a significant impact.

The British Cleaning Council have stated that they are “very worried and concerned” about these changes (February 2020).

Some commentators have also suggested that these changes may lead to a boom in ‘black market’ employment, with some employers happy to use illegal immigrants in order to keep costs down.  According to Focus on Labour (FLEX), a respected charity working in this area, this may also lead to an increase in modern slavery, as vulnerable people could be exploited for their labour but may be too afraid to report it as they are undocumented.   

Some have suggested that UK workers can just fill the gap. However, we know from our own experience that cleaning is more than just a ‘low skilled’ job - it requires hard work, reliability and attention to detail, many skills in fact – so it cannot be done well by just anybody. In a time of historically low unemployment, the supply of available labour is also limited, and the labour shortage in London alone is likely to be in the tens of thousands. There is likely to be a ‘crunch’ somewhere.  

Preparing for change

The potential good news for cleaners in London is that wages may begin to rise in the long term - a labour shortage may see even the most reluctant employers begin to pay more than the Minimum Wage in order to fill gaps.

Clean for Good is a Living Wage Employer which always pays the London Living Wage (or more) and also offers Terms and Conditions above the Statutory Minimum. So, in a competitive labour market, we expect to do well and to continue attracting – and keeping - some of London’s best cleaners.

But any organisation which contracts out its cleaning and relies on Minimum Wage cleaning may be in for a shock in 2021. If a labour shortage begins to bite, any company which is still paying the Minimum Wage for cleaning is likely to be hit hardest and may well be left with jobs unfilled. And if your cleaning company is not doing proper checks, you may find your office being cleaned by undocumented migrants.

Our message to employers in London is simple – don’t get caught out. Plan ahead, ensure that you are contracting with a trustworthy cleaning company which recruits and manages its staff well and which always pays the London Living Wage. There is a way forward, but it is going to require change.

**

Clean for Good is an ethical cleaning company for London, cleaning offices and workspaces across the city. We are a Living Wage Employer, we directly employ our cleaners and we train and manage our cleaners professionally. Founded in a church in the City of London, we launched in 2017 and continue to grow!

For more information and to get a free quote for cleaning your offices, go to www.cleanforgood.co.uk  

Follow us at @clean4good.

Tim Thorlby is the Managing Director of Clean for Good. You can find him at @TimThorlby.