Cleaning in the tourism sector: working conditions

It is essential that as consumers we apply the same principles of ethics and responsibility when choosing our tourist accommodations. Informing ourselves, demanding transparency, and making conscious choices are key steps to ensuring a fairer and more sustainable tourism sector.

At Els Majordoms, we work daily to ensure that our labor practices are fair and respectful to all our workers. We invite all our clients to join us in this commitment to justice and sustainability, thus contributing to a better future for everyone.

When we think of tourism, we often picture paradisiacal beaches, luxurious hotels, and unforgettable experiences. However, behind these experiences, there are many people who work hard to make everything run smoothly, especially the cleaning staff. But why do we often not think about their working conditions when choosing accommodation?

Fair trade and tourism: a notable contrast

In recent years, we have seen more and more people caring about buying Fairtrade products like coffee or chocolate, which guarantee fair working conditions. This awareness is undoubtedly a positive step toward more ethical and responsible consumption. But when it comes to booking accommodation for our holidays, this concern seems to vanish.

Working conditions in tourism

The cleaning staff, often invisible to guests, is crucial for maintaining the quality and hygiene of accommodations. In many cases, this work is done off the books, without formal contracts or social guarantees. This makes these workers even more vulnerable, with low wages and long working hours that can affect their health and well-being, as well as the quality of the service they provide.

The cleaning workers' association, Las Kellys, is demanding improvements in their working conditions. They report insufficient wages and excessive workloads. Although these demands have received media attention, awareness of this issue is growing very slowly.

A systemic and political problem

The fact that many people can only work off the books is not an individual problem but a systemic and political one. This system excludes many people, especially migrant women, from working in decent conditions. Many people, especially vulnerable women, depend on social assistance that is incompatible with having a formal contract. This is another systemic problem that adds complexity to the situation. Migrant women, in particular, find themselves trapped in this web of incompatibilities, which forces them to opt for off-the-books work to avoid losing the assistance they need to survive. This perpetuates the vicious cycle of precarious labor and hinders their integration into a fair and regulated labor market.

At Els Majordoms, we want to ensure that all our workers have formal contracts to guarantee good working conditions and avoid risks. However, we recognize that this decision excludes a group of people, especially migrant women without residency permits. For many of them, working off the books is better than not having a job at all. While we fully support our decision, we are aware of its repercussions.

The impact on the market price of cleaning

The fact that most work is done off the books distorts the labor market. At Els Majordoms, we often find that the hourly rate for off-the-books work is considered the market rate. This means that when we offer a real hourly rate according to the hospitality and tourism agreement, some clients are surprised and see it as high, even when we are talking about the minimum wage. This distortion makes it difficult for decent working conditions to become the norm and creates a disadvantageous competitive environment for companies that want to operate ethically.

The vision of Els Majordoms: a commitment to labor ethics

At Els Majordoms, we are committed to transparency and labor responsibility. We ensure that all our workers enjoy decent working conditions.

Booking with us not only means enjoying a dream vacation but also contributing to more ethical and responsible tourism. We strive to ensure that the people who make your stay possible have the best working conditions. This way, you can relax knowing you are making a conscious and positive choice.