The use of a cleaning subcontractor is common practice in the cleaning industry.
Grab a coffee and read an honest look behind the scenes of commercial cleaning.
Picture this: your business hires a commercial cleaning company after a polished sales pitch. But when night falls, someone arrives with an ABN, basic off-the-shelf supplies, and zero direct connection to the company whose name is on the invoice.
In our industry, that’s not an accident — it’s a business model. Commercial cleaning contracts are routinely auctioned down a ladder of subcontractors until the person holding the mop is getting paid a fraction of what they should.
At NRE Cleaning, we take a firm stand: we do not use a subcontractor to carry out cleaning for us. Every cleaner in our uniform is an employed member of our team.
To explain why, we need to call out the biggest problem in our sector first — and then show you what doing things the right way looks like.
The Problem: The Reality of “Sham Contracting”
If you’ve followed Australian workplace news over the past few years, you’ve likely seen the term sham contracting in the headlines.
In simple terms:
Sham contracting occurs when a business disguises an employment relationship as an independent contracting arrangement.
Instead of hiring someone as an employee, a company tells a worker: “Get an ABN, invoice us $25 an hour, and you can clean this site.”
Even though the worker wears a company uniform, follows strict company instructions, works fixed hours, and can’t send anyone else to do the work, they are treated as an “independent business.”
Why do some cleaning operators do this and use a cleaning subcontractor? To dodge paying:
- Superannuation guarantee contributions.
- Paid annual leave, personal/carer’s leave, and public holidays.
- Overtime and mandatory penalty rates.
- Workers’ compensation premiums.
Not only is this illegal under the Fair Work Act 2009—carrying hefty civil penalties from the Fair Work Ombudsman—it also exploits workers, particularly migrants and international students who may not fully know their legal protections.
Beyond the ethical issue, it exposes you, the client. Australian courts and regulators are increasingly looking up the supply chain. If a cleaning subcontractor is cleaning your building and is trapped in sham contracts, your organisation faces serious brand and compliance risks.
Our Solution 1: We Pay the Legal Award Rates — Every Single Shift
The Australian Cleaning Services Award exists to establish a fair baseline. It sets strict minimum wages and requires penalty rates when staff work early mornings, nights, weekends, or public holidays.
When cleaning operators pass contracts down to third-party sole traders on a cut-rate flat fee, meeting the Award is practically impossible once the cleaner pays for their own insurance, gear, and tax.
At NRE Cleaning, we don’t look for loopholes:
- Every cleaner is paid strictly in line with the Cleaning Services Award.
- Penalty rates and overtime are factored directly into our quotes.
- We provide honest, transparent pricing so you know exactly where your cleaning investment goes.
A sustainable cleaning contract doesn’t pinch pennies out of a cleaner’s pocket.
Our Solution 2: Genuine Care for Our Staff Means Real Employment
Cleaning is physical, demanding work. The idea that someone should spend hours scrubbing, sanitising, and maintaining a facility without a safety net doesn’t sit right with us.
By directly employing our crew:
- They have real security: If they fall sick or a child is unwell, they take paid carer’s leave. When it’s time to take a break, they have paid annual leave.
- They are covered on the job: Full statutory Workers’ Compensation insurance covers every shift, with full super paid directly into their funds.
- They get proper tools and safety training: We supply commercial-grade equipment, safe chemicals, and clear WH&S training. Nobody has to scrimp on their own safety gear to turn a profit.
When workers feel valued and secure, they stay with us longer. For you, that means the same familiar, trusted faces looking after your site week in and week out.
Our Solution 3: Full Transparency for Your Peace of Mind
Cutting out the subcontractor middlemen creates direct accountability:
The Subcontractor Model | The NRE Direct Employment Model |
High turnover & anonymity: Keys handed to whichever contractor is available. | Vetted, trusted team: Directly employed, background-checked staff on your premises. |
Rushed visits: Contractors juggling multiple sites to make a low flat rate viable. | Dedicated time: Cleaners allocated the actual hours needed to clean thoroughly. |
Supply chain risk: Potential co-liability under Fair Work crackdowns. | Zero compliance worry: Full verification of Award wages, super, and insurance. |
Doing Right by the People Who Keep Your Space Shining
A clean office or facility shouldn’t come at the cost of underpaid, unprotected workers. When you partner with NRE Cleaning, your workspace doesn’t just look great—it represents an ethical, legally compliant workplace you can stand behind.
Looking for a dependable, ethical cleaning team for your workplace?
Reach out to NRE Cleaning Pty Ltd today for a direct, fully compliant service quote.