Today on International Cleaners Day it was great to come together with the United Workers Union and public school cleaners to celebrate the important work cleaners do for the community.
The ACT Labor Government values the important work cleaners do and have demonstrated this through ensuring school cleaners have secure work and are provided opportunities through this challenging time.
The important work that cleaners do cannot be understated and as the community makes its way through the challenges of COVID-19, cleaning has had a much deserved spotlight.
The United Workers Union have fought hard for their members and in 2019, the ACT Government decided that it would offer school cleaners direct employment within government. This saw around 300 people, many of whom are migrants or refugees, gain secure employment as they work to continue keeping public schools clean and safe.
The ACT was better able to respond quicker to the changing COVID-19 situation because of the work that had already been done to in-source school cleaning. Never before has having a well-supported workforce of school cleaners been so important.
Through the ACT Governments Jobs for Canberrans Fund, the Education Directorate is hiring an additional 180 cleaners and building support officers. To date, 90 people have been hired to fill these positions.These additional cleaners have allowed us to deliver dedicated hygiene cleaning activities throughout each school day to keep school communities safe.
This $6 million hiring program is keeping Canberrans employed during this challenging time.
I encourage all Canberrans to take a moment on this International Cleaners Day to think about, and thank cleaners for, the tremendously important work they do not only in our schools, but across our society.
