Photo Essay: Janitorial workers

Dubai Women's College provide the students and faculties with many services. The main service is janitorial workers who keep the college clean. In my opinion, the janitorial workers are the most valuable assets in HCT, and everyone should appreciate them because they have left their families, countries and become an expatriates just to provide their families with life's basic needs. Through  this photo essay, I want to show you the lifestyle of those worker who surrounds you all the time during the college. It might move your emotions, especially when you compare yourself to them in term of living standards. 

Janitorial workers income:

Ladies cleaner's salary is 600 DHS per month for 8 hours and if they worked for extra hours it will reach 1,000 DHS. Also, they are provided with monthly allowance for their food. Sometimes, if Abela & Co had an extra food, they will give it for the workers for free. As a result, they will be able to save this additional allowance. 

On the other hand, men cleaner's salary is 600 DHS per month for 8 hours and if they worked for extra hours it will reach 1,000 DHS. They don't get an allowance for food, instead they are provided with 3 meals by the company. However, they only have one way to earn additional income which is washing cars. They have specific time to exercise this activity, which is from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm and another group 1:30 to 2:30 pm. 


Janitorial workers lifestyle:

•  Cleaners works for 14 hours including 3 breaks. 
• Their job times starts from 6:30 am to 8:30 pm.
• They have 3 breaks for 30 minutes to 1 hour for their breakfast, lunch and rest break. Sometime they gather together to have some conversation.
• Men have lunch in a room that is near the pickup area. 
• Ladies have lunch in a room that is located at the foundation area.
• All employees have a schedule that is prepared by their supervisor. Each one of them will be assigned to clean specific areas at specific time. 
• They clean  the whole campus including the coffee shop, cafeteria, classes, administration area, parking area, gym, library and toilets.
• In case, they have an issue or they want to change their schedule, they will be having a meeting with the supervisor. 
• Ladies walk to their labor accommodation.
• Men have a bus that will drive them to the labor accommodation.

Induna start his day by cleaning the windows and door of the campus.

Induna prefers to spend his break time with his friend to chat and discuss their daily details.    

Nayas usually cleans the corridor, where he will swap the floor and throw the garbage.

Mohammad Arshad is a Bangladesh who has a university certificate but works as a  cleaner in our College. He said that  he is happy with his job, where he transfers  his salary to his family for the purpose of building their own house.

Naresh  is an Indian worker who have been working in the company only for a 1 months and he said " I am  happy and lucky to work in Dubai". He want to work to support his parents.

Working in this hot weather for the purpose of the additional income that goes directly to him.

The adviser is having a meeting to talk about the schedule that will be set for the next month.

These are the schedules that is hanged up on the wall for the employee.

Having  lunch at a room that is located in the foundation area.

According to the schedule, her shift was in the cafeteria to clean that tables.

Finally, I was browsing the internet to search about janitorial workers and I find out about a charity campaign  in Dubai that helps those people by providing them with many things. The charity campaign is called Social bandage, their mission is to spread awareness about the poor people for example;Janitorial worker's by providing them used bikes,helmets and yellow jacket for safety in addition to other things.

Click here to check Social bandage website.