Schiphol commits to cleaner terminal and better employment for cleaning staff
Update 1 November 2024: The provisional award has changed to a final award.
15 Oktober 2024 - Schiphol wants to conclude new, long-term contracts with GOM, Hago Airport Services and Victoria for cleaning services in the terminal and baggage basement. The airport announced this in a provisional award of the contract. Schiphol will work more closely with the cleaning companies and their employees to improve cleaning in the terminal and the passenger experience. In doing so, the quality of work for staff is a top priority.
Schiphol made quality for travellers and employees the most important requirement in the tender process, more important than costs. Making demands on quality of work is something Schiphol and the unions agreed to in the social contract. For example, part of the contract is that the companies indicate annually how they ensure an attractive and adequate income. In addition, sufficient time must be scheduled for work, and it must not cost employees any money to travel to and from the airport.
We are aware that tendering is an intensive and tense process for companies and employees. New contracts mean that some employees will have a new employer or will work in another part of the terminal. We realise that this has a big impact on people because it's a significant change. After the final awarding of the contracts, current employees will receive an offer from the chosen parties. This is also stipulated in the national collective bargaining agreement for the cleaning sector. It is important that employees receive proper guidance in this change in the coming period. We are in close contact with the companies and unions about this.
Full transparency
The new contracts are based on collaboration. Schiphol and the cleaning companies will share all their data. Schiphol will share details about expected passenger flows at the airport, and the cleaning companies will share details about workload and schedules. This will allow the cleaning companies to improve their schedules and, together with Schiphol, improve the passenger experience. At Schiphol, there will be additional staff as a point of contact for the cleaning companies in the terminal itself and within contract management.
We are working hard to improve our infrastructure, working conditions and services to passengers and airlines. We are taking major steps; replacing, renewing and making Schiphol more sustainable at a pace never seen before. Cleaning plays an important role in the passenger experience. The new contracts and way of working do justice to that. We have many cleaners who are extremely passionate about Schiphol and have been working at Schiphol for years. We really need them to make a difference for the passengers every day.
Tendering procedure
The cleaning companies will each take on a portion of the terminal and baggage halls. The new contracts mean that there will be fewer cleaning companies operating at Schiphol; there are currently four.
Schiphol has decided to put this order on the market and is thus obliged to put contracts out to tender. The provisional award is the result of an intensive tendering process. There is now a period in which parties can object. The award is expected to be finalised in early November 2024. The contracts will enter into force on 1 April 2025 and have a term of 8 years, with the possibility of a 2-year extension.