Cleaners’ cooperative marks 5th anniversary with exhibition |02 February 2015

The Cleaners’ Cooperative held its first open day last week on the occasion of its fifth anniversary.

This milestone was marked by a one day exhibition held in the Independence House lobby in the presence of the Minister for Labour and Human Resource Development Idith Alexander, principal secretary for Natural Resources Michel Nalletamby, Cleaners’ Cooperative chairperson Marie Ange Denis, chief executive of the Cleaners’ Cooperative Helene Nicette, partners, management board and staff of the cooperative and other invited guests.

The Cleaners’ Cooperative was created during the economic reforms of 2008 in a programme for outsourcing all non-core functions in government departments.

The cooperative opened its doors on January 1, 2010 with 156 members. As of January 1, 2015, it has 500 members placed in diverse establishments from government, parastatals and private organisations on Mahe, Praslin and La Digue. During the open day certificates of recognition were presented to 105 members who have been with the cooperative for the five years.

The certificates were presented by Mrs Denis to five members who collected them on behalf of the other members.

Opening the exhibition, Mrs Denis welcomed all and congratulated all members of the cooperative for striving and having reached that far.

“It was not an easy task for the management board to guide this ‘new born’ through its first five years of life. But with experience and loyalty of members we managed to jump the hurdles to arrive at this point of our development,” she said.

Mrs Denis also elaborated on some constraints encountered during the five years such as lack of confidence by some in the initial phase and in the concept of the cooperative as a private business, reluctance of clients to register complaints or issue formal warnings to cleaners allocated to them which often contributed to poor discipline, lack of commitment, lack of belonging and diminished productivity.

She said this is why a lot of emphasis is put in training of all members on the many aspects related to their work such as service ethics, practical skills, customer service, attitude and infection control.

“This capacity building has had such an impact that a number of our cleaners have benefited, with some having climbed up the ladder to become nursing assistants, health information assistants and receptionists,” she said.

The aim of the exhibition was to show to the general public the achievements of the cooperative in its five years of existence.
This was illustrated by photos and written illustrations.

Members of the cooperative were also available to answer any querries regarding the organisation.
Another aim of the exhibition was to educate affiliated partners and the public on the different and right types of cleaning and detergent solutions on the market that could be made available to cleaners.

These were being displayed and explained by three local companies dealing in cleaning detergents -- Chem Plus, Bestway and Pace.
Also on display was the cooperative’s new logo and motto -- ‘Together we get it right first time’.

Two representatives from two government departments that employ cleaners from the cooperative testified their appreciation of the work done by the cleaners.   
All cleaners spoken to by Seychelles NATION said that they were very satisfied working for the cooperative.   

According CEO Nicette, cleaners of the cooperative will benefit from the five-year pension as announced by the government last year.

As there is a shortage of men as cleaners in the cooperative (with only three at present), she launched an appeal for more men to come and work as cleaners and to dispel the misconception that this is a woman’s job. 

 Guests and visitors viewing the exhibition