The British Cleaning Council (BCC) is calling tor cleaners who are supporting critical industries to be treated in the same way as other Key Workers when it comes to testing.
The lives of cleaners working on the frontline in the fight against Coronavirus are at risk because they are not automatically entitled to testing.
The UK Government recently announced a rollout of testing to cover more Key Workers, but cleaners were not mentioned. The BCC and cleaning industry figures are very concerned that cleaners, who risk being exposed to Coronavirus while working to keep critical industries open, have been forgotten.
The BCC is calling for Key Worker cleaners to be explicitly included in the list of occupations to be offered testing. Cleaners who should be offered testing include those who:
- •Keep healthcare premises hygienically clean.
- •Clean schools and education facilities that are open for the children of Key Workers to attend.
- •Work within the food supply chain such as in food hygiene, logistics, factories, supermarkets and shops.
- •Clean at Government buildings and prisons.
- •Work as cleaners at care homes.
BCC Chairman, Paul Thrupp, said: “Many cleaners are making a vital contribution to keeping critical industries open and are, in the process, putting themselves just as much at risk of contracting Coronavirus as other Key Workers.
“They are absolutely required to be included in the list of workers who are entitled to testing. Failing to offer testing to cleaner Key Workers is a serious mistake which could cost lives.
“Many people throughout the cleaning industry are very worried. We are calling for the Government to urgently correct this major mistake and will be contacting them directly to demand that this be corrected.”
BCC Deputy Chair, Jim Melvin, said: “Aside from our highly significant concern for our cleaning colleagues, it is arguably true by not giving cleaning staff tests, the Government process is effectively making the tests, correctly given to Key Workers, redundant as they would potentially be working with non-tested cleaners. It would therefore also be a waste of valuable tests and funding.”
Cleaners working in critical industries are deemed to be Key Workers. The BCC has been campaigning for all cleaners to be recognised as Key Workers due to the vital importance of high hygiene standards during the Coronavirus pandemic.
