Cleaning sector is key in Europe’s recovery phase, says EFCI

16th of June 2020
Cleaning sector is key in Europe’s recovery phase, says EFCI

The role of the cleaning and facility service sector has been well recognised during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, Isabel Yglesias at EFCI explains, the industry has a crucial role to play in Europe’s continuing recovery.

While European governments start to design a gradual phasing out of COVID-19 containment measures, the EFCI welcomed the general acknowledgment of the cleaning and facility services sector’s crucial role in the maintenance of hygiene and cleanliness to contain the virus. From recognition in relevant addresses by prime ministers and presidents to the special Easter blessing of Pope Francis, the cover of the New Yorker Magazine and Google Doodles, cleaners have been praised among those “who without any doubt are in these very days writing the decisive events of our time”.

At EU level, on April 15 the European Commission and Council presented a Joint European Roadmap towards lifting COVID-19 containment measures, providing common recommendations for European and national authorities. The document importantly underlines that cleaning and disinfection operations will be crucial in the implementation of Europe’s exit strategies.

The different governmental instructions and legislative measures for reopening contain similar recommendations: cleaning, hygiene, disinfection and sanitisation are therefore at the very centre of the pathway to the “new normal”.

Cleaning and facility services companies are ready to take on the challenge of ensuring the necessary operations for the reopening of buildings and facilities. Nevertheless, they need the active support of European and national authorities to make it possible. Early May 2020, EFCI members estimated that companies have lost an average 50 per cent of turnover during lockdowns; while some have been able to compensate their loss of income with the increased demand from the health sector, most of our companies saw their activities temporarily reduced and activated short time work measures.

Moreover, additional costs have appeared: personal protective equipment (PPE), training, products. In the long run, most companies might experience serious obstacles to their business continuity if not adequately supported by public authorities.

Besides, the scarcity and impact on costs of PPE is still pressing. While the safety of cleaning agents is a priority for companies, they continue to face considerable challenges to access supplies.

The sector needs support to continue providing its essential services. Supporting cleaning companies is key to ensure they can continue playing their key role in the fight against the pandemic.

Indeed, a flexible approach needs to be implemented regarding temporary employment measures: a gradual reopening implies gradual increase of requests by clients, and while cleaning companies need to be ready to face such demands, cleaning agents need to be supported until ready to return to work. A sectoral approach, analysing the consequences of the containment measures in the different economic ecosystems is needed. Further, fast, non-burdensome access to liquidity is necessary to balance the strain caused by the closures.

By direct or indirect legislative measures or government decisions, cleaning services have already been granted ‘essential’ status in many member states (including Italy, France, Belgium, Spain and Ireland). It is urgent that other countries and the European Commission itself follow the same path, recognising cleaning, disinfection and sanitisation operations as essential activities and cleaning agents as key workers. The cleaning sector will be strategic not only to Europe’s recovery but as essential as ever to our societies and economies also beyond the crisis.

Against this background, national associations as well as the EFCI have been tirelessly advocating for the industry’s needs and recommendations in order to ensure the specific needs of the cleaning sector are taken into account and acted upon at national and European level.

Among others, the EFCI has been at work to map, analyse and convey the sectors’ urgent needs. Our initiatives have been supported by the ‘In Good Hands’ campaign on social media, which has been resonating in different countries. The role and impact of joint action is therefore becoming increasingly important at all levels.

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