"The cleaning industry itself has been a dynamic and growing economic sector across Europe, providing jobs for many workers. While there are some very large cleaning companies in Europe, the sector is dominated by small businesses - many with fewer than 10 workers. The industry has an active and prominent social dialogue at the European level that provides leadership to the sector.
This report considers the challenges to be overcome in improving the safety and health of cleaners, and examines actions taken to achieve this goal. By its nature, the report focuses on challenges associated with cleaning tasks, seeking solutions to these challenges that can reduce the risks to workers' health and safety. This should not obscure the positive developments in this field, and it should be noted that the European cleaning industry bodies representing both employers and workers are leading the way in improving the performance of the sector. The tendency for cleaning work to be contracted out with tenders considered on the basis of price alone means that there is heavy pressure on cleaning companies to cut costs. This can result in an inadequate investment in training and other management activities essential for worker protection. ..."

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