Squeaky-clean Singapore to boost image of cleaners

Agence France Presse. December 8, 1999

SINGAPORE aims to improve the image of workers in the cleaning industry in a bid to help reduce the number of foreign workers in the squeaky-clean island state.

The Ministry of Manpower on Wednesday launched a plan to transform the cleaning sector in the new millennium, as it noted that many Singaporeans were hesitant to take on jobs in the industry.

"Cleaning service providers find it hard to attract enough workers into this industry and to retain existing workers," Minister of Manpower Lee Boon Yang said at the launch.

"Cleaning has always been associated with mop and pail or a broom and dustpan, hence, knowledge and skills are often seen as unimportant," he said.

The estimated market size of the cleaning industry in Singapore is about S$300 million yearly (US$179.9 million) and it is expected to grow at about 27 percent over the next five years, the ministry said.

However, its growth was hampered by its poor image and lack of training opportunities.

Lee said there was "a lack of Singaporeans to take on these jobs, and consequent demands for more low-skilled foreign workers."

"But letting in more foreign workers will only perpetuate the problem. Companies will beeven less willing to invest in training and equipment. They will remain unproductive and unable to change," he said.

Under the "Cleaning Industry Transformation Plan," Singapore hopes to raise its productivity, improve workers' perception of the industry, promote the skills and knowledge in the industry and encourage more people to consider cleaning as a viable job option.