ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

UNI Europa and the EFCI (European Cleaning and Facility Services Industry) - the social partners in the European Sectoral Dialogue Committee for Industrial Cleaning (the Industrial Cleaning SSDC) - have met to decide on their working programme for 2026-27.

Since the establishment of a SSDC in 1999, the partners have dedicated themselves to improving the recognition of the sector and its workforce.

UNI Europa and the EFCI believe social dialogue and collective bargaining can ensure equitable and sustainable solutions for business and workers. So they intend to deepen their cooperation and social dialogue with a view to enhancing social partners' capacity at national and EU-level.

Among the areas the two organisations have focused on in recent years are daytime cleaning and public procurement and TUPE.

Over the next year, the plan is to focus on digitalisation - specifically gathering best practice on digital skills needs and training. Along with promoting professionalism and career advancement through skills recognition and certification of qualifications in the cleaning sector.

The Industrial Cleaning SSDC will also agree on methods to assess the impact of digitalisation on workers and businesses. There will also be sectorial guidelines on the responsible, ethical and inclusive use of mobile technology, cobots, and AI.