Rick van der Gaag is the Entrepreneurship Project Manager at Schoonmakend Nederland. Rick explains: "We represent the interests of nearly 500 entrepreneurs in the cleaning and window cleaning sector. This includes negotiating collective labor agreements, political lobbying, and a strong positioning for the sector. This enables our members to offer valuable work to 125.000 cleaning workers and operate successfully in a healthy business climate."
When Rick started at Schoonmakend Nederland almost five years ago, he brought over 10 years of experience with trade associations with him. He finds the dynamics within trade associations very similar. "We're social, engaged, and work a lot with family businesses," Rick continues.
The great thing about Schoonmakend Nederland is that they are there for the collective as well as the individual. For instance, they offer a collective labor agreement and a legal helpdesk that answer members' questions regarding employment law (meaning you don't have to call your bookkeeper or lawyer, and immediately save a significant amount) as well as business-related issues. And if the helpdesk doesn't have the answer readily available? Then an entire network is ready to step in.
The collective is, if possible, even stronger. Because the trade association has a coverage rate of almost 70 percent—meaning that more than two-thirds of all cleaners in the Netherlands work for a member—it is the only party on the employer side authorized to conclude the collective labor agreement for the sector that is declared generally binding.
Commercial cleaning, reconditioning, window cleaning, hotels and more
The Dutch Cleaning Industry Association is committed to representing the entire breadth of the sector. "Besides regular cleaning, the industry has various specializations. Each specialization has its own unique requirements and preferences. With reconditioning projects (restoring buildings after fire, storm, and water damage), speed is often paramount (to minimize damage). With window cleaning, working at heights and ensuring it is done safely and responsibly is a key issue. That's precisely why the Clean Quality Mark is a requirement for membership of the Dutch Cleaning Industry."
This quality mark doesn't check how clean windows are after a window cleaner or the amount of dust on a desk, but rather guarantees the process and organization. Everything must be in order, partly due to the chain liability that the industry faces. This prevents employee exploitation and ensures that companies truly comply with legislation.
Schoonmakend Nederland also offers associate membership. Companies that have not yet obtained the Clean Quality Mark have one year to meet the requirements. A NEN 4400 requirement is often the only requirement.
The market monitor
One of Rick's responsibilities is the market monitor, which was introduced this year. This benchmark is distributed to members 13 times a year and provides truly actionable data. This can include turnover as well as absenteeism. "Employees in our industry account for approximately 80 percent of the costs. But if you only know that absenteeism was 6 percent in Q3 2021, you have no comparison data and no idea how the company is doing. That's why our members provide data on gender, pay grades, age, employment type, and more. This is not only useful for the members themselves, but also for negotiating the aforementioned collective labor agreement," Rick explains proudly.
"We especially see that young entrepreneurs are eager to share data. They're very open with each other and understand that while you're faster alone, you achieve more together. They're competitors, but they don't clash."
What keeps the entrepreneur awake at night?
Besides monitoring the market, Rick is responsible for the member benefits program. Keeping entrepreneurs awake at night is his top priority. "We don't want to offer too many member benefits; we're not a supermarket. What we offer must be relevant and truly make a difference. This often involves accelerating processes or digitizing them. Think of assistance with business acquisitions and/or sales, general terms and conditions, subsidies, but also insurance and tax matters. That's why TrackJack's mileage tracking is such a perfect fit for us," says Rick.
We have many entrepreneurs with many employees. In our industry, you easily reach dozens or hundreds of employees. And then CO2 emissions and mobility are going to play a role , especially with the upcoming legislation.
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