THE government initiative to offer grants to organisations to look beyond price when awarding cleaning contracts is to be commended ('Govt boosts cleaning sector', last Thursday). The aim is to boost earnings of cleaners and increase the proportion of Singaporean workers.

In this regard, cleaning companies can do more for their workers. What happened to the 12 per cent Jobs Credit payouts these companies received?

Cleaning companies have fixed contracts with the employing organisation, in which the number of workers is fixed and tied to the contract amount. This being the case, the 12 per cent payouts represent a windfall for these cleaning companies. Perhaps they will agree to share part of the payouts with their workers by declaring special quarterly bonuses.

Many cleaners earn less than $800 a month and every extra dollar in their pocket will help them in these difficult times.

Joe Chua

This article was first published in The Straits Times.