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

Look Beyond Off-the-Shelf Cleaning Solutions
November 12, 2025 Barbara Laible

Look Beyond Off-the-Shelf Cleaning Solutions

November 10, 2025 Kathleen Misovic

Working 6 to 2

November 6, 2025 Jeff Cross

A New Era at ISSA: Kim Althoff on Leadership, Legacy, and the Road Ahead

Sponsored Articles

Stop Leaks Before They Drain Your Budget
November 4, 2025

Stop Leaks Before They Drain Your Budget

October 29, 2025

Predictive Intelligence in Smart Buildings—Transforming Restroom Management

October 27, 2025 Sponsored by SPARTAN CHEMICAL CO.

CASE STUDY: Revolutionizing Commercial Cleaning Operations

Recent News

ISSA Innovation Awards 2025

ISSA Show North America Names Innovative Leaders Award 2025 Winners

Minority- and Women-Owned Business Certification Process Is Worth the Challenges

Kim Althoff Shares New, Bold, Inclusive Future of ISSA