On Tuesday June 27, the European Cleaning and Facility Services Industry (EFCI) hosted an event on daytime cleaning practices in Europe. Leading experts from the European cleaning industry came together to discuss one of the potential drivers for change in the cleaning sector.
The European cleaning industry has been debating the case for daytime cleaning for years. And while in some countries this way of working is being implemented, it is not so widespread in others. Could it be a realistic solution for the cleaning industry of tomorrow? To discuss this point and further the public debate on the challenges of the cleaning industry, EFCI organized an event, “Daytime Cleaning in Practice: A New Reality for the European Cleaning Industry.”
Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), representatives of the cleaning industry, stakeholders from the business community and social partners all convened to shed light on the organizational model of daytime cleaning and build on concrete cases from public and private sectors of the industry. This discussion was also part of EFCI’s social dialogue agenda, marking the strong commitment of the organization to make use of all possibilities offered by social dialogue to strengthen the sector.
“The cleaning sector is essential to our lives and joint efforts are needed for a sustainable and technological shift in the future,” highlighted European Parliament Vice President Pina Picierno and MEPs Sylvie Brunet and Svenja Hahn in their welcome speeches to participants.
EFCI President Lorenzo Mattioli later shared the floor with MEP Ilan De Basso for an introductory exchange, agreeing on the need to shift the perspective for daytime cleaning to improve the visibility of the sector and benefit all actors of the industry.
Technical Presentation From France
Following the opening remarks, Marc Guerrien, a technical expert from the Federation of Cleaning, Hygiene and Associated Services Companies (FEP) — an EFCI member organization — shared a French approach to daytime cleaning. Research shows that “continuous,” the term used in France, or daytime (cleaning) work is not simply a question of shifting schedules rather it is a concrete commitment to social responsibility which results in multiple benefits for clients. Long story short: daytime cleaning can become an effective reality if implemented in accordance with all players, case by case.
Industrial Cases on Daytime Cleaning Arrangements in the Private and Public Sectors in Europe
Speakers from public and private sectors presented practical examples of how daytime cleaning works in their sectors. In speaking on benefits and challenges, one point stood out: the relevance of daytime cleaning arrangements should be considered case by case, but it also comes with environmental, economic and social benefits for all actors of the sector. The organizational model can be viable across many sectors if carefully planned and implemented.
How to Make Daytime Cleaning Work for All
Rounding off the discussion, EFCI President Lorenzo Mattioli joined speakers from public and private sectors and UNIEuropa for a panel discussion.
“Daytime cleaning can be a major step forward for our industry, increasing its visibility and sustainability,” said Mattioli. “But it must be up to the actors operating in the field to choose this solution, adapting it to their actual needs. We encourage policymakers to recognize the specificity of the cleaning industry — providing services to people — and reflect it accordingly in the legislation, starting from public procurement provisions. Public procurement can have a major impact on the diffusion of these models if it focuses on the promotion of innovative, high-quality and future-fit operational models instead of continuing along a price-only approach.”
EFCI will continue working in the coming months to bring to the front of the European Union (EU) debate the topics that are at the heart of the cleaning industry, a sector that is so vital to safety and well-being of our society, and for the effective performance of economic activities.