Cleaner from overseas
Author
Discussion

JNR77

Original Poster:

279 posts

267 months

Monday 5th February 2018
quotequote all
My wife runs a few holiday lettings near Sheffield in the Peak District

Previously we had a cleaner from Poland who was very efficient, punctual no problem whatsoever. Unfortunately after brexit she returned to Poland, she always planned to, her and her husband came with the aim of making and saving enough money to build a house in Poland and have done just that.

We have since used cleaning companies which have been very poor service, lazy, late, do the bare minimum and not interested in doing a good job, they pay minimum wage then add a few quid on top.

We have just returned from Dubai and been impressed with the hotel staff which are from all over the world; India, Thailand etc all very hard working, polite etc etc.

Any idea how we could recruit a foreign cleaner, must be above board, permits visa etc, we will pay minimum wage or more if needs be, we can also provide accommodation. She is looking to expand soon so may be able to employ 2 or 3.

Any help much appreciated

edc

9,617 posts

280 months

Monday 5th February 2018
quotequote all
There is no way you will get a sponsor visa for a non EU person to work as a cleaner. Such a non EU person could come on a spouse visa for example but these are not exactly very secure as the person is piggy backing somebody else permission to stay and work.

98elise

32,493 posts

190 months

Tuesday 6th February 2018
quotequote all
Why not employ another Polish cleaner?


OldGermanHeaps

5,116 posts

207 months

Tuesday 6th February 2018
quotequote all
Why the obsession with non british?

Eric Mc

125,606 posts

294 months

Tuesday 6th February 2018
quotequote all
Are there no UK cleaners available?

The job isn't barred to natives.

mcg_

1,454 posts

121 months

Tuesday 6th February 2018
quotequote all
OldGermanHeaps said:
Why the obsession with non british?
did you read the post?


KrazyIvan

4,341 posts

204 months

Tuesday 6th February 2018
quotequote all
mcg_ said:
OldGermanHeaps said:
Why the obsession with non british?
did you read the post?
Don't employ an agency, try advertising for a local at a good rate, not just minimum way.

Vaud

59,247 posts

184 months

Tuesday 6th February 2018
quotequote all
I guess your problem is that you have a limited supply of "local supply" due to your location?

If you can supply a good volume of work, have you thought about advertising directly in Sheffield - e.g. via Facebook jobs board (there is normally a local group)? Or through the nearest big villages/towns facebook pages? There are often mums who want flexible hours for cleaning that fit around school, etc, if you can offer that flexibility.

You can bypass the agencies and control the interview process.

What pay rate do you offer and how many hours?

anonymous-user

83 months

Tuesday 6th February 2018
quotequote all
OldGermanHeaps said:
Why the obsession with non british?
So he can get away with paying an illegally low wage cash in hand?

No other reason can account for illegal discrimination

Kermit power

29,622 posts

242 months

Tuesday 6th February 2018
quotequote all
keirik said:
OldGermanHeaps said:
Why the obsession with non british?
So he can get away with paying an illegally low wage cash in hand?

No other reason can account for illegal discrimination
I suspect it's more an issue of him using an agency that pays minimum wage and treats its employees like crap, then assumes that he's getting poor service because of the nationality of the cleaners, not their employment conditions.

I'd also agree with the notion of recruiting people direct.

CubanPete

3,799 posts

217 months

Tuesday 6th February 2018
quotequote all
To get someone good you need to pay above the market rate.

It sounds like you are making enough to be able to afford to do this, for the sake of a few quid it will save a lot of hassle.

98elise

32,493 posts

190 months

Tuesday 6th February 2018
quotequote all
keirik said:
OldGermanHeaps said:
Why the obsession with non british?
So he can get away with paying an illegally low wage cash in hand?

No other reason can account for illegal discrimination
I disagree. When you pay someone a decent money to do a simple job they will have a great work ethic. UK wages are significantly more than you would get in Poland hence in effect a minimum wage low skill job is relatively well paid.

227bhp

10,203 posts

157 months

Tuesday 6th February 2018
quotequote all
Put an advert up like most people would, you could word it:

'Cleaner wanted'

Or some other catchy title along with an explanation.

Then you interview the applicants.....

How long have you been on this planet? A year or so?

Vaud

59,247 posts

184 months

Tuesday 6th February 2018
quotequote all
227bhp said:
Put an advert up like most people would, you could word it:

'Cleaner wanted'

Or some other catchy title along with an explanation.

Then you interview the applicants.....

How long have you been on this planet? A year or so?
But the issue is probably a lack of supply. Peak District - low population, high travel times, etc

mattnovak

338 posts

131 months

Tuesday 6th February 2018
quotequote all
Vaud said:
But the issue is probably a lack of supply. Peak District - low population, high travel times, etc
And therein lies the opportunity. Start your own cleaning agency?

Vaud

59,247 posts

184 months

Tuesday 6th February 2018
quotequote all
mattnovak said:
And therein lies the opportunity. Start your own cleaning agency?
How does starting an agency help when you have low supply? Scarce resources are better doing deals directly.

mattnovak

338 posts

131 months

Tuesday 6th February 2018
quotequote all
Admittedly it depends if the demand is there. I think there are plenty of holiday homes in the Peak District? There’s certainly a demand for the OP, doesn’t take long to research and see if it’s viable.

Vaud

59,247 posts

184 months

Tuesday 6th February 2018
quotequote all
mattnovak said:
Admittedly it depends if the demand is there. I think there are plenty of holiday homes in the Peak District? There’s certainly a demand for the OP, doesn’t take long to research and see if it’s viable.
True, but for minimum wage and the need to factor in travel time, you either need to find:

a) people looking for a few quid "in hand" and who are local (mums with kids at school, looking for flexibility)
b) pay more
c) pay contribution to travel costs

If you need work and live in Sheffield there is no point in traveling to the Peak District for minimum wage as you would lose too much in transport cost and time. Plenty of demand locally.

Min wage also sounds low. We need to pay £12/hr locally for non agency and that is the going rate (suburban Yorkshire).

227bhp

10,203 posts

157 months

Tuesday 6th February 2018
quotequote all
Vaud said:
But the issue is probably a lack of supply. Peak District - low population, high travel times, etc
Well he managed it before and does say he will accommodate. Stick an ad in somewhere suitable (ffs!) local town, nearest Eastern European community etc.
OP needs to give more info....

wisbech

4,196 posts

150 months

Tuesday 6th February 2018
quotequote all
Cleaners are ineligible for work permits, as low skilled labour, so you can only go for people that already have right to work in the UK. (Which includes EU citizens obviously)