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Reality bursts the bubble
11th of March 2026 Article by Katja Scholz
It’s been a difficult start to 2026 for the German contract cleaning sector, reports Katja Scholz.
The start of the year for the contract cleaning sector has been marked by negotiated wage increases and difficult collective wage bargaining talks. Looking back a year, the collective wage agreement in November 2024 signalled an important turning point in the current pay debate: employers and union agreed significant wag..
Mobility and carbon footprint
4th of March 2026 Article by Christian Bouzols
Reporting from France, Christian Bouzols on how cleaning firms are facing challenges to mobility.
Faced with mobility challenges, cleaning companies are rethinking their practices. Optimising travel, renewing their fleets and finding alternative solutions... they are stepping up their initiatives. Between economic constraints, regulatory requirements and environmental imperatives, they are seeking the right balance while supporti..
From the Snake to the Horse
25th of February 2026 Article by Lynn Webster
Lynn Webster in the UK looks ahead to the significance of the Lunar New Year for the sector.
As the calendar turns and a New Lunar Year begins, the cleaning industry finds itself in some familiar territory. We are leaving the Year of the Snake for the Year of the Horse. Taking stock of the qualities of last year where the snake was traditionally associated with reflection, precision and transformation. Using this symbolism ..
What if the cleaner was your colleague?
20th of February 2026 Article by Wioleta Tomaszewska
In a time when social sustainability is as important as environmental and economic sustainability, working hours and inclusion are part of how we build good workplaces. Wioleta Tomaszewska - a BU support planner in cleaning at Coor FM (one of the leading service providers in the Nordics) and lecturer in cleaning management - tells us why in this piece for ECJ.
Cleaners often start their workday when others have gone home. They wo..
AI and cleaning - the future is now
9th of February 2026 Article by Anna Garbagna
Anna Garbagna, ECJ reporter in Italy, on the impact of new laws around use of AI for the cleaning sector.
With the entry into force of Law no. 132/2025, Italy is among the first European countries to give artificial intelligence a national status, transposing the European Union’s AI Act and introducing rules on transparency, security and responsibility.
This revolution also involves the professional cleaning s..
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