Wages in the cleaning sector will increase on 1 January 2026
Wages in the cleaning sector will increase on 1 January 2026: what does this mean for employees and employers?
1/1/20261 min read
As of 1 January 2026, hourly wages in the cleaning sector will be increased again. This is the result of agreements in the 2024-2026 Collective Labour Agreement for the Cleaning and Window Cleaning Sector, which stipulates structural wage increases to make the work more attractive and to reward employees fairly.
What has been agreed?
The collective labour agreement contains various stages of wage increases. The increase as of 1 January 2026 consists of two parts:
🔹 A percentage increase of 3% on the basic hourly wages.
🔹 An additional nominal increase per wage group:
Wage group 1: + € 0.25 per hour
Wage group 2: + € 0.15 per hour
Wage groups 3 to 6: + € 0.10 per hour
Thanks to this combination of percentage and fixed increases, employees in the lower wage groups will benefit relatively more.
What does this mean for employers?
For cleaning companies, higher hourly wages mean higher labour costs. This may have consequences for quotations and rates charged to clients; many companies adjust their price calculations to pass on the higher wages.
What does this mean for cleaners?
For employees themselves, the increase as of 1 January 2026 means more gross income per hour worked. This is particularly noticeable in the lower wage categories and contributes to higher motivation and appreciation for the work.