Pay attention, notice, appreciate

Herrmann & Schmidt Dienstleistungen GmbH & Co. KG specializes in infrastructural building cleaning. With over 1,000 employees from 37 nations, the company ensures cleanliness in large administrative buildings, event spaces, and transit systems. "Our goal is cleanliness for Munich – and we achieve this with artisanal precision and a high standard of our work," emphasizes Felix Schmidt, fourth-generation CEO. "We value thorough training so that our employees can perform their jobs efficiently and with health consciousness."

Appreciation and fair working conditions

Although the building cleaning industry is essential to society, it often lacks recognition. "During the pandemic, our work became temporarily visible, but then it quickly faded into oblivion," says Felix Schmidt. Financially, many companies are also under pressure. Collective bargaining autonomy is increasingly being undermined by political interventions, weakening the industry's negotiating position. With a nationwide collective wage of 14.25 EUR per hour, the building cleaning industry is in the middle range of craft professions. Nevertheless, the CEO sees problems: "Politics override our painstakingly negotiated tariffs with minimum wage increases. This undermines collective bargaining autonomy and deprives the industry of its economic basis in the long term."

The shortage of skilled workers is one of the greatest challenges. "If we fail to recognize our employees as skilled workers and offer them perspectives, we will not win new ones," emphasizes Felix Schmidt. "Building cleaning is a real craft profession, but it is often underestimated in public perception." A solution approach for Felix Schmidt lies in targeted labor migration. "Our industry has traditionally been a springboard for migrants into the labor market. But the barriers for foreign workers are too high. We need more flexible regulations so that people who want to work are also allowed to work." At the same time, Felix Schmidt relies on reforms in labor law. "Abolishing minor employment would be an important step. For employers, mini-jobs are extremely expensive, and they do not offer employees long-term security."

Despite all obstacles, the CEO still looks positively into the future. "We are a strong company with a clear vision. Our flat hierarchies, our qualified employees, and our roots in Munich make us crisis-proof." He relies on an integrative and sustainable entrepreneurship: "We care not just about our employees, but also about their families." He sees it as politics' duty to strengthen the crafts sector in the long term. "Craftsmanship must not become a luxury item. If we are not careful, it will soon be unaffordable," says Felix Schmidt. "We need to pay attention, notice, appreciate. We are not hidden champions – we want to be visible and underscore our importance to society."