PAY AND CONDITIONS OF PARLIAMENT CONTRACT CLEANERS

Early day motion 1167, tabled 30 November 2005 by Martin Caton (Labour). Signed by 64 members.

That this House notes that cleaners working in the Danish legislature receive £9.20 per hour, cleaners in the Dutch legislature are paid £8.20 per hour, cleaners in the Swedish legislature get £7.20 per hour and cleaners in the Belgian legislature earn £7.03 per hour; recognises that in all these countries parliamentary cleaners are entitled to sick pay, an occupational retirement pension and between four to six weeks' paid holiday a year; is appalled that in contrast, contract cleaners at the UK Parliament receive just £5.20 per hour, get no sick pay or occupational pension and only 12 days holiday a year, apart from bank holidays; and therefore calls on the parliamentary authorities to act now to improve pay and conditions for the people who keep the parliamentary estate clean.

Signatures by party: Labour 46, Liberal Democrat 10, DUP 3, Conservative 1, Plaid Cymru 1, Scottish National Party 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1, UUP 1.