Cleaners in Serbia represent one of the most invisible and undervalued labor groups. Their salaries are often close to the minimum wage and do not vary by work experience, while additional earnings mostly come from unregistered jobs. Many choose to work in schools due to the security of registered employment and health insurance, although the job is physically demanding and socially stigmatized. Agency cleaners earn higher hourly wages but are mostly unregistered and lack health coverage. These topics are covered across various sources emphasizing low wages, job difficulty, job security, and social stigma.
Political Perspectives:
Left: Left-leaning sources emphasize the exploitation and undervaluation of cleaners, highlighting the low wages, lack of benefits, and social stigma they face. They focus on the need for better labor protections, fair pay, and recognition of the physical and social challenges of the job.
Center: Center-leaning sources report the facts about cleaners’ wages and working conditions, noting the differences between formal and informal employment. They highlight the security that formal employment provides and the economic realities of the sector without strong editorializing.
Right: Right-leaning sources may focus on the individual responsibility and the choice of cleaners to work in formal or informal sectors, emphasizing the benefits of formal employment such as health insurance. They might also highlight the economic constraints and the role of agencies in providing higher pay, while downplaying systemic issues.