What's sometimes thought of as being one of the least glamorous professions in New Zealand now has its first living-wage-accredited employer.
The Fresh Desk cleaning company staff, from left, Caroline, Helen, Krissie and Nicole. Photo: Supplied
The Fresh Desk cleaning company in Lower Hutt was set up in 2014 by Australian immigrants Caroline de Castro and Nicole Oxenbridge.
"We started off with one employee and we've got 11 employees now and they're all on the living wage," - Nicole Oxenbridge
Since the very beginning the company has paid its workers the living wage which is currently $20.20 an hour.
It now employs 11 cleaners and recently won $18,000 from the Akina Foundation to help "socially minded entrepreneurs" expand their business.
Nicole Oxenbridge said just because cleaning was an "un-skilled" job, it didn't mean workers should be undervalued.
"Cleaning is a job where a lot of people have to do a few jobs just to get by to feed their kids and to put food on the table.
"So by paying the living wage it's providing employment to people so ... they can spend more quality time with family and they can give back to society as well."