On Friday evening, the Chamber of Employees held a conference with the title of 'Cleanliness at what price? Cleaning: an undervalued job'. The conference was organised by the Chamber of Employees, the Centre for Equal Treatment, the CID Women and Gender, the trade union OGBL, and the JIF (International Women's Day) platform. The event took place just one day before the Equal Care Day, which is celebrated every four years.
It is no coincidence the event takes place this Saturday. According to Jessica Lopes from OGBL, the symbolism behind this is the fact a man takes an average of fours years to complete 'care works', whilst a woman completes the same in just a year. This is due to the fact '80 percent of care work is done by women, 20 percent by men, whether at home, as voluntary work or as a profession', according to the Equal Care Day website. Hence why the Equal Care Day is celebrated each 29. February.
This time around, the focus lies on the cleaning sector, a job we all take advantage of but which often remains invisible, clarifies Jessica Lopes - the reason being that cleaners often work early mornings or late evenings, when most people are at home. It's a job that literally goes unseen, is often underpaid and not appreciated sufficiently.
Many individuals in the cleaning sector suffer from the fact their work is undervalued and general thought is that it's something that could be done by anyone. Lopes, however, says this is far from the truth. The reason for this is the fact cleaners regularly use machines and chemical products, as well as having to do very repetitive movements. The collective agreements are not always respected and cleaners rarely get to work 40h weeks.
83% of the cleaning sector is made up of women, who work an average of just 20h a week and therefore have to also work privately. Generally speaking, it is difficult to work in the cleaning sector and at the same time be in a stable and secure position.
