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Brazilians Work In Cleaning In London After Leaving Careers In Brazil. Immigrants Face Informalities And Fear In The United Kingdom.
Leaving Brazil, crossing the ocean, and starting from scratch in another country has become a reality for many Brazilians who now work in cleaning in London. The phenomenon involves qualified immigrants who arrived in the United Kingdom in recent years, many in irregular situations, attracted by the possibility of greater income, even in the face of heavy workloads, informality, and a constant fear of deportation.
In recent years, especially after Brexit and the pandemic, Brazilians with university degrees have taken informal jobs in the London cleaning sector.
The change occurs because Brazilian diplomas face validation barriers, work visas have become more restricted, and the high cost of living pressures those who need to survive quickly.
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Qualified Brazilians And The “Downgrading” Of Professional Status In London
Among these Brazilians is Lívia, a civil engineer with a master’s degree from the Federal University of Paraíba. Upon leaving João Pessoa, she believed that studying English in London would open doors to work in her field.
However, she soon faced a common obstacle for many immigrants: diploma validation.
“The new beginning came with difficulties in validating my diploma — a costly and time-consuming process,” she reports.
Without formal work authorization, she ended up in cleaning, a role locally known as cleaner.
“I had never done any manual work before. It was hard, but I needed to work. At first, I felt ashamed. Today, I just want stability,” says the Brazilian.
Lívia has worked in cleaning residences and also in a school, taking care of bathrooms, common areas, and maintaining a pool.
The pay was £12.20 per hour, an amount considered reasonable by Brazilian standards but insufficient given the cost of living in London.
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Cleaning In London: Higher Income, Heavy Routine, And Informality
Lívia’s case is not isolated. Wagner, an oceanographer trained in Brazil, is also part of the group of Brazilians who see cleaning as the only viable option to stay in London.
“I came to London to find work, even without documentation, and for the quality of life,” he states. Despite his academic background, he has never managed to work in his field.
Wagner currently works in the cleaning of a hotel through a third-party agency and earns about £2,000 per month. Still, he describes an exhausting routine.
“I consider the salary low for what is demanded. It’s hard work, with constant pain, a 6×1 shift, and accumulated fatigue,” he shares.
Before that, he worked as a freelance cleaner, earning between £10 and £13 per hour, just enough to cover basic expenses.
Brazilian Immigrants, Fear, And Constant Vigilance In The United Kingdom
For many Brazilian immigrants, life in London is marked by insecurity. Fabiana, a 24-year-old from Goiás, arrived during the pandemic and only found stability after years of informal work.
“I do everything: cleaning, cooking, ironing, and taking care of the dog. I’m almost a housekeeper,” she reports.
Despite earning around £2,200 per month, more than half of her income is consumed by rent, transportation, and food. However, the fear is constant.
“I live in fear, in a state of constant vigilance,” she states. According to her, any complaint about salary or hours could result in a report and deportation.
Wagner shares the same feeling. “I live on alert all the time, with emergency money and a contact ready in case I need to leave.”
The Economic Burden Of Cleaning And The Precarization Of Immigrants
The cleaning sector plays a central role in the British economy. Data from the British Cleaning Council indicate that the market was worth £66.9 billion in 2022 and employs about 1.49 million people, many of whom are immigrants, especially in London.
Researchers point out that the growth of the sector is associated with outsourcing and work precarization.
“Many cleaners are paid in cash, without a contract, and can be dismissed without notice,” explains researcher Claire Marcel.
This reality directly affects Brazilians, who often depend on informal networks, WhatsApp groups, and referrals to secure work in cleaning.
Supervision, Deportations, And Voluntary Returns Of Brazilians
In recent years, the British government has intensified the inspection of irregular work. Between July 2024 and June 2025, there were over 10,000 operations, with a significant increase in arrests and fines for employers.
During this same period, nearly 5,000 Brazilians returned voluntarily to their country, many encouraged by official programs that offer financial assistance to leave the United Kingdom.
Despite this, around 230,000 Brazilians currently live in the country, with London as the main hub of this community.
Between The Dignity Of Work And The Lack Of Perspectives
For many Brazilians, cleaning in London represents a tough but necessary new beginning. Trading diplomas for brooms was not the initial plan, but it became the only possible alternative given the migration restrictions.
“It’s not easy to be called a cleaner after so much study, but I learned that all work is dignified,” Lívia summarizes.
Thus, the journey of these immigrants reveals not only individual choices but a structural scenario that pushes qualified Brazilians into informality in the United Kingdom, in search of survival, stability, and, perhaps, a better future.
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