Washed-up: Victoria’s dodgy school cleaners axed in contract reforms

VICTORIA’S school-cleaning contracts will be overhauled to kick out dodgy operators underpaying their workers and not ordering police checks.

• School cleaners working for ‘free’
• Cleaners underpaid in dirtydeals

VICTORIA’S school cleaning contracts will be overhauled to kick out dodgy operators underpaying their workers and not ordering police checks.

The Andrews Government will today announce it will slash the more than 100 cleaning contracts on offer in Melbourne to just eight.

It comes after the Herald Sun revealed government school cleaners were being underpaid at least $10 million, in a major a major wages scandal centred on the state’s education department.

A union audit revealed some cleaners were being paid as little as $2.63 an hour, while hundreds were working without background checks putting children at risk.

Under the changes, single contracts will be awarded for eight newly created zones across metropolitan Melbourne.

Education Minister James Merlino. Picture: Nicole Garmston

The new model will be rolled out across Melbourne next year, and then all of regional Victoria.

Education Minister James Merlino said the changes would ensure cleaners were paid their legal wages and entitlements.

“Cleaning staff are valued members of our school communities, and this new model will strengthen their working conditions and make sure they get a fair deal,” Mr Merlino said.

“This new model will ensure schools get high quality cleaning services, principals are better supported to look after their schools and cleaners are treated fairly.”

United Voice Victorian secretary Jess Walsh said the state had the worst cleaning system in Australia because hundreds of “backyard operators” had been competing for more than 1500 contracts.

“These reforms will bring Victoria into line with other states with fewer contracts,” Ms Walsh said.

“It will mean an end to wage theft in our schools.

“Cleaners do an incredibly important job. These reforms will mean they receive the respect, fair pay and job security they deserve.”

The Herald Sun revealed in May that some companies were onselling their contracts to other operators without the knowledge of the Department of Education and Training, with workers being paid well below the award’s minimum wage.

Some workers said they were bullied by their employers for speaking up.

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