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Sector gathers around 75,000 professionals, many of them immigrants, and has a minimum wage defined by a collective agreement since 2004, but routine before dawn remains little recognized
Cleaning in Switzerland employs about 75,000 people and has a minimum wage of 21.40 Swiss francs per hour, an amount that can reach 171.20 francs for an eight-hour shift. Even though it is essential for swimming pools, hotels, offices, and homes, the work is still little seen and faces reports of low appreciation. The data is from this article by Correio 24 Horas.
Workers keep spaces ready before the arrival of the public
The routine of those who work in cleaning in Switzerland often begins before dawn. These professionals leave environments ready for use before the arrival of residents, guests, employees, or visitors.
In Appenzell, Heidi Walter, responsible for cleaning a pool complex, summarizes the invisibility of the role.
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To the Swiss public broadcaster SRF, she stated that people only notice the work when something hasn’t been cleaned.
For Heidi, a compliment for the cleanliness of the environment represents the greatest recognition the team can receive. The statement shows how the activity, despite being essential, usually takes a back seat in daily life.
Cleaning minimum wage in Switzerland is guaranteed by a collective agreement
Since 2004, the cleaning sector in Switzerland has had a collective labor agreement that establishes a minimum wage for the category. Currently, the minimum wage is 21.40 Swiss francs per hour.
In an eight-hour shift, this amount is equivalent to 171.20 Swiss francs, about R$ 1,100. The comparison draws attention compared to the amounts charged by housekeepers in Brazil, generally between R$ 120 and R$ 300 per day, depending on the city.
The contrast, however, needs to consider the Swiss cost of living. Rent, food, transportation, and health insurance consume a significant part of the income in the country.
Immigrants occupy an important part of the workforce
A large part of the cleaning workers in Switzerland is made up of immigrants. The Portuguese Catarina Sofia Bastos da Silva worked as a dental hygienist in her country and started working as a domestic worker while learning German.
She sees cleaning as a temporary step to return to her field of expertise. Even so, she says she feels satisfaction when clients recognize the result of a job well done.
Indispensable work, but little noticed
Researcher Reta Barfuss, from the University of Zurich, states that cleaning is indispensable but little noticed by society. Many teams work when other people are still sleeping or have already left work.
According to her, society tends to see the clean environment, but not the effort or who performed the service.
Furthermore, researchers also report low wages, discrimination, unpaid commutes, and little professional appreciation in the sector.
This article was prepared based on information from the Swiss public broadcaster SRF, with data, numbers, and statements preserved as per the consulted material.
