Cleaning firms are drowning in work in Greater Helsinki area

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The cleaning enterprises in the Greater Helsinki area are being overwhelmed by their workload. There are more clients in need of house-cleaning services than these firms can cope with.
      The fact that there are not enough workers in the domestic market makes the problem even worse. Hence, cleaning firms are recruiting staff for example from Estonia.
     
The domestic help credit granted by the Finnish Tax Administration has encouraged people to get help for cleaning, laundry, repairs, and yard work. In terms of euros, repairs and redecorations have created the largest amount of work. While it is true that repairs have been made also earlier, the possibility of a domestic help credit has reduced the amount of illicit work.
     
New jobs have been opened primarily in the cleaning industry. For example, the Vantaa-based cleaning company Lekator has grown from being a one-woman enterprise, established in the 1990s by Nina Kajavo, to a firm that is currently employing close to 70 workers.
      The Helsinki-based cleaning company, Uudenmaan Taloudenhoitopalvelut, which was established in 1997, is employing a staff of around 20. Aiming at a moderate growth, the company states that it is focusing on quality.
      Since last spring it has been possible to take a vocational examination in domestic services. The certification is believed to improve the status of the cleaning sector in Finland.
     
In 2004, a total of over 175,000 households applied for a domestic help credit. About one-third of these households were located in the province of Uusimaa.
     
In terms of money, the total amount of domestic help credits in the entire country was close to EUR 110.5 million in 2004, while the average credit per household was EUR 630.
      The Elias nettitori (online market), which comprises some 600 firms, is offering various household services including cleaning, housekeeping, nursing and provision of care and maintenance and repair of homes on www.elias.fi .
      The domestic help credit can be granted for ordinary housekeeping, nursing and provision of care and maintenance and repair of homes or summer residences. For detailed information, see the web sites of the Finnish Tax Administration.


Links:
  The Finnish Tax Administration

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