26 April 2006 | Anusha Bradley

Banks, financial services and legal firms should procure cleaning services ethically, ensuring cleaners are paid a "decent living wage", according to the Transport and General Workers' Union (T&G).

The T&G has urged the sector to follow in the footsteps of Barclays Bank, which this week negotiated new contracts with its cleaning suppliers, which guarantee its cleaners are paid at least £6.05 an hour - £1 above the minimum wage. The deal applies to all 2,400 cleaners.

A T&G spokesman told supplymanagement.com: "There is no reason why these companies cannot pay a decent living wage. These firms talk in terms of billions of pounds worth of profit. For them the extra cost is just a drop in the ocean."

Jon Couret, head of facilities management at Barclays Sourcing - the procurement arm of Barclays Bank - said in a statement that although it had a contract directly with its cleaning suppliers, the bank recognised it was ultimately responsible for improving cleaners' standards of living.

A Barclays spokesman said it also "makes business sense" to pay its cleaners more. He said: "Cleaners who are rewarded fairly will do a better job and it helps us hold on to good cleaners."

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