Urgent Action Needed on Cleaning Industry Training

CRESTCLEAN MEDIA RELEASE

Thursday 26 March 2015

Urgent Action Needed on Cleaning Industry Training

Figures just released by NZQA showing a shocking level of training uptake by cleaners has led to calls from New Zealand’s leading commercial company CrestClean for the introduction of a National Standard for the $1 billion commercial cleaning industry.

“New Zealand businesses are being let down by poor levels of cleaning being undertaken in their businesses, and these latest figures show businesses are at a great risk of their people falling sick due to the lack of training their cleaners have,” said Grant McLauchlan, Managing Director of CrestClean.

In 2014 only 219 people successfully gained an NZQA qualification suitable for undertaking a commercial cleaning job, including following basic levels of infection control precautions.

“With an estimated 30,000 people employed as commercial cleaners across New Zealand NZQA numbers show there is an alarming number of cleaners out in the market that potentially don’t have a clue what their doing.”

“Show me another New Zealand industry sector with an annual spend of $1 billion that does not have any minimum standards. Commercial cleaning has an impact on all corners of the economy from business to health and education, said Mr McLauchlan.

“All businesses need to ensure that those responsible for the cleaning within the workplace should at least have some practical training in cleaning operations,” Mr McLauchlan said.

CrestClean works with the Master Cleaners Training Institute (MCTI) offering structured training programmes and ensures its people are trained to internationally recognised and accredited standards. These programmes are also NZQA validated.

In 2014 CrestClean put through 214 people through a NZQA accredited training programme, representing 50 per cent of all certification of commercial cleaners in New Zealand.

“While CrestClean is certainly leading the industry in training and experiencing significant business growth as a result, we strongly believe New Zealand businesses deserve better and are now calling on the Government to introduce a National Standard to clean up the industry,” Mr McLauchlan said.

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