Page 73 - CIJ Oct 2024 Digital Edition

MAKING A POINT

Why are workers in a billion-rupee

segment not respected?

Rapid urbanization, rising disposable incomes, changing lifestyles and growing
awareness about hygiene and cleanliness is witnessing an annual increase in revenues
between 10-15% for the home cleaning service segment. However, while the growth
is encouraging with business booming, it is all the more uncertain compared to the
organised professional housekeeping segment. Why is this unorganised booming
segment facing lashes?

Despite operating in an cleaning service segment explains that home cleaning also
unorganized sector, the extends to heritage homes and
home cleaning business experiencing the same? independent villas. Further, “we have
is growing across India. Let us first look at how the home the advantage of engaging with local
“A common challenge cleaning segment is shaping up. workers, which works in our favor
is a lack of respect for workers, Largely a market catering to the when it comes to servicing homes”.
which often drives experienced
upper middle class and upper class, They get trained and deployed as per
consumer preferences are now requirement.
shifting toward specialised cleaning There are a number of solutions
solutions suitable for a range of put to use in home cleaning. Multi-
surfaces, such as glass, stainless steel, purpose cleaners, glass cleaners, tiles
wood, and concrete. There is also cleaners, floor cleaners, and wood
a rising demand for environment- maintainers for cupboards… The
friendly cleaners composed of natural
ingredients contributing to investments made are high and so are
market expansion. Health the returns, which is on a daily basis.
consciousness too is “We also get into annual maintenance
encouraging sanitized with some homes.”
living. Professional If home cleaners are uniformed,
cleaning not only use professional knowhow of
addresses aesthetic concerns cleaning services, implement right
but also plays a vital role in reducing methods and products of cleaning,
allergens, bacteria, and viruses that provide quality results, then why
can compromise indoor air quality does this profession lack respect.
and overall health. Why are the workers forced to look
From adopting the right cleaning for a “dignified” alternative?
solutions & processes to efficient As Pramod put it, “They think
time management strategies, builds home cleaning is a cheap job.”
the success stories of home cleaning
professionals. In many cases, home A country where
staff to seek better opportunities in cleaning requires anywhere from cleaning & hygiene
more prestigious jobs,” says Pramod four to 10 or more working member is the national
Kumar, CEO, Hygienic Home. team depending on the size of the agenda and we have
And so do many others in this flat, apartment, bungalow… been working toward
segment! Besides the concern voiced by a clean India for over
Pramod, competition, costs and a decade and yet
But is this limited to the quality cleaning are additional there is no dignity
given to the people
home cleaning segment factors influencing the success working in the
of a service provider. Speaking
only or is the whole of a small city of Guntur, Pramod cleaning profession? CIJ

Clean India Journal•OCTOBER 2024 73
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