In June, the Fair Work Ombudsman commenced legal action against the former operator of a commercial cleaning business in western Sydney.
The regulator began an investigation after receiving requests for assistance from two international students, who were employed on a casual basis as cleaners between August and October in 2020.
In January, industry bodies including the Building Service Contractors Association of Australia (BSCAA) and ISSA, the worldwide cleaning association, called on state and federal governments to extend the relaxed isolation requirements to the cleaning industry.
Last month during an interview with 2GB Sorbent CEO Steve Nicholson warned consumers that the price of toilet paper may increase as the company faces a 290 per cent rise in its gas bill.
Nicholson said at the time that there was “a real crisis looming” for the manufacturer and its customers due to the soaring cost of gas.
The winners of this year’s INCLEAN Excellence Awards were announced at the ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo. In 2022, the awards received a record number of nominations, with entries narrowed down to three finalists across six categories: equipment (small), equipment (large), paper and dispensing, cleaning agents, services and technology, and janitorial.
In January, international students had their 40-hour-a-fortnight working cap lifted in an effort to ease the pressure of workforce shortages in a number of industries, including commercial cleaning.
In March, the Millennium board announced the departure of CEO, Scott Alomes. Royce Galea, one of the founders of the business, was appointed interim CEO and managing director.
Quayclean Australia increased its presence in the Australian education sector earlier this year, after securing contracts seven major private schools. Three of the cleaning, hygiene, and waste management contracts wins were gained in Western Australia, as well as NSW, Queensland, South Australia, and Quayclean’s first private school in the ACT.
The long-awaited ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo returned to Sydney in September, giving the industry the opportunity to come together for two days of education, networking, and business building. The free-to-attend event reported a 25 per cent increase in attendees and showcased more than 80 exhibitors.
In March, the Fair Work Ombudsman secured $12,787 in penalties in court against a Sydney-based cleaning business and its director. The penalties were imposed in response to the company failing to comply with a compliance notice requiring the back-payment of entitlements owed to a casual cleaner who was not paid anything for about a week’s work.
In June, the NSW state government announced healthcare workers, including cleaners, would receive a one-off cash bonus of $3,000 in recognition of their work on the frontline during the pandemic.
Minister for Employee Relations, Damien Tudehope, said at the time that the $3,000 one-off payment was recognition of a workforce that has stepped up above and beyond.
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