--- title: "Cleancorp on SBS: Cleaning Industry Key to Australia’s COVID-19 Response" description: SBS News interview Cleancorp - The cleaning industry is critical to Australia's response COVID-19 pandemic image: https://blog.cleancorp.com/hubfs/Cleancorp%20on%20SBS%20News%20Interview%20COVID.png --- [Skip to content](https://blog.cleancorp.com/sbs-news-interview-cleancorp-the-cleaning-industry-is-critical-to-australias-response-covid-19-pandemic#main-content) [![cleancorp-logo](https://blog.cleancorp.com/hs-fs/hubfs/cleancorp-logo.png?width=200&height=44&name=cleancorp-logo.png)](https://cleancorp.com) - [About Us](https://cleancorp.com/about-us/) Show submenu for About Us - [Our Story](https://cleancorp.com/about-us/#our-story) - [Our Team](https://cleancorp.com/about-us/#our-team) - [Certifications & Awards](https://cleancorp.com/about-us/#certifications-and-awards) - [Testimonials](https://cleancorp.com/testimonials/) - [Reconciliation Action Plan](https://blog.cleancorp.com/hubfs/Cleancorp%20Reflect%20Reconciliation%20Action%20Plan.pdf) - [Services](https://cleancorp.com/services/) Show submenu for Services - [National Cleaning](https://cleancorp.com/services/national-commercial-cleaning/) - [Office Cleaning](https://cleancorp.com/services/office-cleaning/) - [Charity and Not-for-Profit Cleaning](https://cleancorp.com/charity-not-for-profit-commercial-cleaning/) - [School Cleaning](https://cleancorp.com/services/school-cleaning/) - [Retail Cleaning](https://cleancorp.com/services/retail-cleaning/) - [Strata Cleaning](https://cleancorp.com/services/strata-cleaning/) - [Industrial Cleaning](https://cleancorp.com/services/industrial-cleaning/) - [Child Care Cleaning](https://cleancorp.com/services/child-care-cleaning/) - [Commercial Carpet Cleaning](https://cleancorp.com/services/carpet-cleaning/) - [Aged Care Cleaning](https://cleancorp.com/services/aged-care-cleaning/) - [Hospitality Cleaning](https://cleancorp.com/services/hospitality-cleaning/) - [Locations](https://cleancorp.com/locations/) Show submenu for Locations - [Sydney](https://cleancorp.com/locations/commercial-cleaning-sydney/) - [Melbourne](https://cleancorp.com/locations/commercial-office-cleaning-melbourne/) - [Brisbane](https://cleancorp.com/locations/commercial-cleaning-brisbane/) - [Canberra](https://cleancorp.com/locations/commercial-cleaning-canberra/) - [Adelaide](https://cleancorp.com/locations/commercial-cleaning-adelaide/) - [Perth](https://cleancorp.com/locations/commercial-office-cleaning-perth/) - [New Zealand](https://cleancorp.com/locations/commercial-cleaning-auckland/) - [Sustainability](https://cleancorp.com/sustainability/) - [Blogs](https://blog.cleancorp.com) - [Our Pricing](https://cleancorp.com/commercial-cleaning-cost-and-pricing-guide/) Show submenu for Our Pricing - [Pricing Guide](https://cleancorp.com/commercial-cleaning-cost-and-pricing-guide/) - [Instant Pricing Calculator](https://cleancorp.com/commercial-cleaning-pricing-australia-free-calculator/) - [1300 211 944](tel:1300211944) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [About Us](https://cleancorp.com/about-us/) Show submenu for About Us - [Our Story](https://cleancorp.com/about-us/#our-story) - [Our Team](https://cleancorp.com/about-us/#our-team) - [Certifications & Awards](https://cleancorp.com/about-us/#certifications-and-awards) - [Testimonials](https://cleancorp.com/testimonials/) - [Reconciliation Action Plan](https://blog.cleancorp.com/hubfs/Cleancorp%20Reflect%20Reconciliation%20Action%20Plan.pdf) - [Services](https://cleancorp.com/services/) Show submenu for Services - [National Cleaning](https://cleancorp.com/services/national-commercial-cleaning/) - [Office Cleaning](https://cleancorp.com/services/office-cleaning/) - [Charity and Not-for-Profit Cleaning](https://cleancorp.com/charity-not-for-profit-commercial-cleaning/) - [School Cleaning](https://cleancorp.com/services/school-cleaning/) - [Retail Cleaning](https://cleancorp.com/services/retail-cleaning/) - [Strata Cleaning](https://cleancorp.com/services/strata-cleaning/) - [Industrial Cleaning](https://cleancorp.com/services/industrial-cleaning/) - [Child Care Cleaning](https://cleancorp.com/services/child-care-cleaning/) - [Commercial Carpet Cleaning](https://cleancorp.com/services/carpet-cleaning/) - [Aged Care Cleaning](https://cleancorp.com/services/aged-care-cleaning/) - [Hospitality Cleaning](https://cleancorp.com/services/hospitality-cleaning/) - [Locations](https://cleancorp.com/locations/) Show submenu for Locations - [Sydney](https://cleancorp.com/locations/commercial-cleaning-sydney/) - [Melbourne](https://cleancorp.com/locations/commercial-office-cleaning-melbourne/) - [Brisbane](https://cleancorp.com/locations/commercial-cleaning-brisbane/) - [Canberra](https://cleancorp.com/locations/commercial-cleaning-canberra/) - [Adelaide](https://cleancorp.com/locations/commercial-cleaning-adelaide/) - [Perth](https://cleancorp.com/locations/commercial-office-cleaning-perth/) - [New Zealand](https://cleancorp.com/locations/commercial-cleaning-auckland/) - [Sustainability](https://cleancorp.com/sustainability/) - [Blogs](https://blog.cleancorp.com) - [Our Pricing](https://cleancorp.com/commercial-cleaning-cost-and-pricing-guide/) Show submenu for Our Pricing - [Pricing Guide](https://cleancorp.com/commercial-cleaning-cost-and-pricing-guide/) - [Instant Pricing Calculator](https://cleancorp.com/commercial-cleaning-pricing-australia-free-calculator/) - [1300 211 944](tel:1300211944) - [Get a  *Free* Quote](https://cleancorp.com/get-a-free-quote/) [Get a  *Free* Quote](https://cleancorp.com/get-a-free-quote/) # Cleancorp on SBS: Cleaning Industry Key to Australia’s COVID-19 Response As the COVID-19 pandemic sweeps across Australia and the world, one thing is clear - professional cleaners are playing a critical role in the fight to contain the virus. At Cleancorp, the phones haven’t stopped ringing. > “We’ve gone from standard business hours to cleaning around the clock, almost 24/7,” says Hela Mejri, Operations Manager at Cleancorp. With virus transmission via surfaces a key concern, businesses are calling on commercial cleaning teams like ours to carry out intensive sanitisation and infection-control cleans. From offices to gyms, retail stores to warehouses, our team is working day and night to help reduce the spread and keep essential services running. But behind the scenes, the pressure is mounting. Cleaners are being asked to enter high-risk environments with little public recognition, and in many cases, limited protective gear. Some companies, like Cleancorp, have stepped up safety protocols, supplying full PPE and hazmat-style protection to frontline workers. Still, the industry as a whole is under strain. Cleaners are speaking out about a lack of equipment, inadequate training, and the very real fear of contracting the virus at work. And with 48% of commercial cleaners in Australia being foreign nationals (according to the 2016 Census), many are international students juggling strict visa limits and financial stress, despite being in high demand. > “We’re hearing from cleaners who are scared to go to work, but also can’t afford not to,” Hela adds. “This is a vulnerable workforce doing incredibly important work. They need more protection, more recognition, and more support.” As cleaning becomes more central to the national COVID-19 response, there’s a growing call for the government to increase safety standards across the industry. Already, supermarkets and healthcare have received temporary exemptions for student visa work limits - cleaners may be next. The United Workers Union has labelled commercial cleaners an “essential but invisible workforce,” and we couldn’t agree more. At Cleancorp, we’re doing everything we can to protect our teams and support the clients who rely on us. This moment demands more than just cleaning - it demands leadership, empathy, and action. Because if we want to keep Australia safe, we need to start with the people scrubbing down every surface to make that happen. “It’s been very busy, we jumped from working eight hours a day to almost 24 hours, seven days a week to keep up with demand" said Lisa Macqueen, CEO. ![Cleancorp on SBS News Interview COVID](https://blog.cleancorp.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Cleancorp%20on%20SBS%20News%20Interview%20COVID.png?width=650&height=406&name=Cleancorp%20on%20SBS%20News%20Interview%20COVID.png) Read the full SBS article [here.](https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/professional-cleaners-under-pressure-to-help-control-coronavirus-spread-in-australia/afktboxzr) [get a free quote](https://cleancorp.com/get-a-free-quote/?utm_source=Website+Blogs&utm_medium=Blogs&utm_campaign=Website+Blogs+to+Quote+Submission)     [![Asset-8](https://blog.cleancorp.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Asset-8.png?width=188&height=42&name=Asset-8.png "Asset-8")](https://cleancorp.com/) A fresh start, a *clean slate* ![BPTW24 Badges_BadgeOnly](https://blog.cleancorp.com/hs-fs/hubfs/BPTW24%20Badges_BadgeOnly.png?width=188&height=77&name=BPTW24%20Badges_BadgeOnly.png "BPTW24 Badges_BadgeOnly") ### Services - [National Commercial Cleaning](https://cleancorp.com/services/national-commercial-cleaning/) - [Office Cleaning](https://cleancorp.com/services/office-cleaning/) - [School Cleaning](https://cleancorp.com/services/school-cleaning/) - [Aged Care Cleaning](https://cleancorp.com/services/aged-care-cleaning/) - [Retail Cleaning](https://cleancorp.com/services/retail-cleaning/) - [Strata Cleaning](https://cleancorp.com/services/strata-cleaning/) - [Industrial Cleaning](https://cleancorp.com/services/industrial-cleaning/) - [Child Care Cleaning](https://cleancorp.com/services/child-care-cleaning/) - [Commercial Carpet Cleaning](https://cleancorp.com/services/carpet-cleaning/) ### Main Services Hub - [Sydney](https://cleancorp.com/locations/commercial-cleaning-sydney/) - [Melbourne](https://cleancorp.com/locations/commercial-office-cleaning-melbourne/) - [Brisbane](https://cleancorp.com/locations/commercial-cleaning-brisbane/) - [Canberra](https://cleancorp.com/locations/commercial-cleaning-canberra/) - [Adelaide](https://cleancorp.com/locations/commercial-cleaning-adelaide/) - [Perth](https://cleancorp.com/locations/commercial-office-cleaning-perth/) - [New Zealand](https://cleancorp.com/locations/commercial-cleaning-auckland/) ### About Us - [Company Profile](https://cleancorp.com/company-profile/) - [Our Team](https://cleancorp.com/our-team/) - [Testimonials](https://cleancorp.com/testimonials/) ### In the Media - [Blogs](https://blog.cleancorp.com/) [Get a * Free * Quote](https://cleancorp.com/get-a-free-quote/) ### Contact - [Call 1300 211 944](tel:1300211944) - [info@cleancorp.com](mailto:info@cleancorp.com) ![Asset-9](https://blog.cleancorp.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Asset-9.png?width=170&height=28&name=Asset-9.png "Asset-9") [instagram icon](https://www.instagram.com/cleancorpau/) [linkedin-in icon](https://www.linkedin.com/company/cleancorp/) [youtube icon](https://www.youtube.com/@CleancorpAUS) ![Acknowledgement-of-Country-1-300x171](https://blog.cleancorp.com/hubfs/Acknowledgement-of-Country-1-300x171.png "Acknowledgement-of-Country-1-300x171") --- - [Policy Documents](https://cleancorp.com/policy-documents/) - Copyright© 2025 Cleancorp - [Terms and Conditions](https://cleancorp.com/terms-and-conditions/) - [Privacy](https://cleancorp.com/privacy-policy/) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Lisa Macqueen", "url" : "https://blog.cleancorp.com/author/lisa-macqueen" }, "dateModified" : "2025-04-07T01:34:10.189Z", "datePublished" : "2020-03-20T03:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "Cleancorp on SBS: Cleaning Industry Key to Australia’s COVID-19 Response", "image" : [ "https://blog.cleancorp.com/hubfs/Cleancorp%20on%20SBS%20News%20Interview%20COVID.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.cleancorp.com/sbs-news-interview-cleancorp-the-cleaning-industry-is-critical-to-australias-response-covid-19-pandemic", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.cleancorp.com/hubfs/cleancorp-logo-img.png" } } } ```