Here’s the translation to American English:
October 15th is commemorated as Cleaning Staff Recognition Day, an initiative promoted by the employers’ associations AFELÍN and ASPEL, aimed at highlighting the work of over 500,000 professionals in Spain. This year, the joint campaign emphasizes the message: “Health doesn’t start in the doctor’s office; it starts in the invisible… in what gets cleaned.”
Under the slogan #HealthStartsWithCleanliness, the importance of professional cleaning in preventing diseases and creating healthy environments is advocated. Despite the significant impact of the cleaning industry on the economy, representing over 1.05% of GDP with annual revenue exceeding 13.7 billion euros, it is still considered a secondary service. Jesús Martín, president of AFELÍN, underscores that “an essential sector needs essential recognition,” highlighting the need to prestige and value the work performed by these professionals.
For his part, Juan Ignacio Beltrán, president of ASPEL, emphasizes that cleaning is an indispensable service in daily life, present in hospitals, airports, and offices. “The economic and social contribution of our companies, as well as their position on sustainability issues, deserves to be recognized,” he adds.
Since 2020, this initiative has gained relevance as a key moment to showcase the effort and dedication of the sector. Currently, this field employs approximately 450,000 workers in building and facility cleaning, and it is estimated that, when including other modalities, the number rises to 550,000. Of these, 81.6% are women. Additionally, there are around 40,400 companies in the country, of which 95% are small and medium-sized enterprises.
Despite its importance, the sector faces significant challenges, such as pressure from public procurement, which often bases decisions on price criteria that do not adequately reflect the value of the service. Employers warn that the minimal price increases, especially in the public sector, jeopardize the viability of numerous companies and the job stability of over 500,000 workers.
Aware of these challenges, AFELÍN and ASPEL are calling for the creation of a framework that ensures economic sustainability, service quality, and job maintenance, thereby securing a safer and more recognized future for cleaning staff in Spain.
Referrer: MiMub in Spanish
