caring for cleaner
INTRODUCTION
Cleaning is a generic job carried out in all sectors and workplaces, outdoors and indoors, in private companies as well as in public areas. It encompasses a wide variety of tasks. The sector is mainly composed of small and very small companies. Most of the cleaning work is performed as contract cleaning where the cleaners are employed by a cleaning company but work within the premises of one or more “host companies”. The sector also has a large proportion of (sometimes undeclared) self-employed workers, who are mostly found in domestic cleaning. The workforce is predominantly female (77%) and most of the workers are working part-time (70%). In Malaysia, it is estimated that about 30% of cleaning workers are migrant workers, although this is probably underestimated. Cleaners are among the lowest paid workers and many are employed on a part-time, contractual or informal basis. Hughes (1962) observed that society delegates dirty work to groups who act as agents on society's behalf, and that society then stigmatizes these groups, effectively disowning and disavowing the work it has mandated. These groups are known as cleaners, housekeepers, janitors, caretakers which are employed in diverse economic sectors including hotels, restaurants, educational institutions, hospitals, transportation facilities. The term “cleaners” and “janitor” will be used throughout the paper to represent this group. For the paper, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM)’s cleaners are chosen.
LITERATURE INTERVIEW
Human Relation between Employer and Employees (Janitors)
The relationship between employees and employers have always centered on human relation. According to Ravi Perris (1996), he stated that employment relationship is the third most important human relationship next to husband and wife, and parent and child. Employment relations are vital for organizational success as high performing workplaces are those that can harness employee effort and employee
Cleaning is a generic job carried out in all sectors and workplaces, outdoors and indoors, in private companies as well as in public areas. It encompasses a wide variety of tasks. The sector is mainly composed of small and very small companies. Most of the cleaning work is performed as contract cleaning where the cleaners are employed by a cleaning company but work within the premises of one or more “host companies”. The sector also has a large proportion of (sometimes undeclared) self-employed workers, who are mostly found in domestic cleaning. The workforce is predominantly female (77%) and most of the workers are working part-time (70%). In Malaysia, it is estimated that about 30% of cleaning workers are migrant workers, although this is probably underestimated. Cleaners are among the lowest paid workers and many are employed on a part-time, contractual or informal basis. Hughes (1962) observed that society delegates dirty work to groups who act as agents on society's behalf, and that society then stigmatizes these groups, effectively disowning and disavowing the work it has mandated. These groups are known as cleaners, housekeepers, janitors, caretakers which are employed in diverse economic sectors including hotels, restaurants, educational institutions, hospitals, transportation facilities. The term “cleaners” and “janitor” will be used throughout the paper to represent this group. For the paper, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM)’s cleaners are chosen.
LITERATURE INTERVIEW
Human Relation between Employer and Employees (Janitors)
The relationship between employees and employers have always centered on human relation. According to Ravi Perris (1996), he stated that employment relationship is the third most important human relationship next to husband and wife, and parent and child. Employment relations are vital for organizational success as high performing workplaces are those that can harness employee effort and employee