Cleaning Council Ponders Effect of New Immigration System on Workforce

February 25, 2020

The U.S. cleaning industry isn’t alone in its concern that immigration issues affect workers in the trade. The British Cleaning Council (BCC) is worried U.K. government proposals to introduce a points-based immigration system will cause labor shortages in the cleaning sector, European Cleaning Journal reports.

Recent BCC research found immigrants make up 19% of the cleaning workforce and projected that 93,000 new cleaning jobs would be created by 2024. However, these projections were made before the immigration rule changes were proposed.

Under the proposed points system, overseas citizens would have to reach 70 points to be able to work in the United Kingdom. Speaking English and receiving an offer of a skilled job with an approved sponsor would give them 50 points. They would receive additional points for their qualifications and their ability to work in a sector with a shortage of workers.

BCC officials say these restrictions would cut off the cleaning sector’s easy access to overseas workers. With a low unemployment rate, there are not enough U.K.-born workers to fill the vacancies left in cleaning jobs.

 

Tags

Latest Articles

Keeping Restrooms Stocked and Clean
July 29, 2026 CMM Staff

Keeping Restrooms Stocked and Clean

July 27, 2026 Alec Germond & Rory Saleh

Long-Term Rental Solutions Create Value for Cleaning Operations

July 24, 2026 Jeff Cross

Growing Faster but Making Less? Here’s Why

Sponsored Articles

New Technology Platform Targets the Hidden 90% of Cleaning Budgets
July 16, 2026 Sponsored by Optisolve

New Technology Platform Targets the Hidden 90% of Cleaning Budgets

July 7, 2026 Dr. Rebecca Bascom & Dr. Gavin Macgregor-Skinner & Dr. Omrana Pasha-Razzak

Evidence-Based Cleaning Ensures Healthy Places and Spaces

July 2, 2026

D.A.R.E. to Clean Restrooms Smarter with Tornado

Recent News

mold in a petri dish

CDC Report Supports Evidence of Invasive Mold Disease

Building Service Contractors: Time Is Running Out to Share Your Voice

Cyclosporiasis Outbreak Expands to More States