I-mens recently increased the price for an hour of cleaning assistance from 9 to 14 euros. Despite this significant price increase, the company did not see many customers cancel their contracts. In fact, only 623 out of 12,000 customers decided to discontinue their services due to the higher costs. The company stated that new customers quickly filled the vacancies left by those who canceled.
At the beginning of February, I-mens raised customer contributions to pay domestic helpers better, provide improved guidance, and cover various expenses. This move was made to support cleaning assistants and provide them with fair wages and better working conditions. The company’s decision to increase prices aligns with the employers’ federation Federgon’s call for higher wages and improved working conditions for cleaning assistants.
Federgon has been advocating for a 5 euro price increase to better compensate cleaning assistants, but they are looking to the Flemish government for support in this matter. Among the political parties, only Vooruit, Groen, and CD&C are in favor of increasing the price for cleaning services. This increased price could help support the hard-working cleaning assistants and ensure they receive fair compensation for their services.
However, some critics argue that raising prices could negatively impact low-income families who rely on affordable cleaning services. They believe that instead of raising prices, employers should focus on providing more affordable housing options or supporting low-income families through social programs.
Despite these concerns, I-mens remains committed to providing high-quality cleaning services while also supporting its employees fairly. By raising prices slightly above what is currently being charged in the marketplace, I-mens hopes to continue attracting new customers while also ensuring that its existing employees are well compensated.
In conclusion, while some may view I-mens’ decision to raise prices as controversial or even harmful to low-income families, it ultimately reflects a commitment by employers to treat their employees fairly and provide them with adequate compensation for their work. As such, it is important for policymakers and industry stakeholders alike to carefully consider both economic factors and social implications when making decisions related to pricing in industries such as cleaning services.
