ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

A row has broken out in Northern Ireland over plans to slash the number of cleaning hours carried out by humans in civil service sites - and introduce robots to take up the slack.

Contractor Aramark has proposed cutting 1,535 cleaning hours per week across 162 sites according to Ryan Wilson from the Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance. He claims the plans could result in fewer staff members being asked to do more work while robots are brought in to replace them.

At one site - the Department of Health's Castle Buildings headquarters in Belfast - a reduction of up to 60 per cent in cleaning hours is being proposed.

"They currently have 300 hours' cleaning per week and the proposal on the table is to slash that by 175 hours," said Wilson. "And to replace some of that work, they're proposing two robot cleaners be introduced. How can anybody expect the same level of cleanliness or the same hygiene standards when over half the hours are gone and the work is supplemented by machines instead of human workers?"

The Department of Finance, which oversees outsourced services, says all workforce decisions are taken by the contractor. Aramark said it is committed to providing its clients "with the best possible solutions for their business needs".

"As we see various advances in technologies and AI, our cleaning services can in some cases incorporate co-botics and various other innovative solutions," said a spokesperson. "These technologies work alongside our team, not in isolation, to create more efficient ways of working while also offering enhanced environmental benefits.

"However, similar to other industries, these advancements in technology may impact the way in which our teams have traditionally worked."