Under Victoria’s protracted lockdowns since early 2020, most businesses have had to find new ways of operating, or risk facing closure. The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre’s social enterprise, ASRC Cleaning was no exception.
The enterprise was founded in 2013 to help people seeking asylum who use the services of the ASRC also gain valuable work experience and a pathway to employment. The enterprise provides training, on the job experience and a stable income to people seeking asylum, while they work to build their career here in Australia and navigate the complex refugee determination process.
But by March 2020, restrictions put in place by the Victorian Government to prevent the spread of COVID-19 meant that ASRC Cleaning, which offers both domestic and commercial cleaning services, faced a sharp drop-off in available work for its cleaning staff. “We had to cancel pretty much all of our services, apart from those that were deemed essential, such as NDIS, end-of-lease, and commercial cleaning. That left a lot of our cleaners with no work hours for the lockdown period - but we weren’t going to leave our staff without an income during a really difficult and scary time,” explained ASRC Cleaning’s Acting Manager, Nicole Zannoni.
It was then when the ASRC committed to pay staff from both its social enterprises (ASRC Catering and ASRC Cleaning) a stable living wage and provide certainty of employment, regardless of the business operations. This ongoing commitment was only made possible through the support of the community who early on in the pandemic, started offering to pay their cleaners, despite not being able to receive a service due to lockdown restrictions.
“Many of our customers chose to continue paying for domestic cleaning services, even though they weren’t occurring. That money went directly to the cleaners who were able to maintain a steady income at a very uncertain time”, says Nicole.
Admin Coordinator Simrat Roopra echoes the positive response that came when the pandemic hit. “It was such a generous offer from some of our Victorian customers to elect to still be invoiced for cancelled services. It was incredibly heartwarming. The community really sees the social good ASRC Cleaning generates, by creating employment opportunities for people who don’t have a lot of them available”.
However, providing a stable income for the team wasn’t the only concern. “I spoke to a lot of our cleaners during lockdown, and many of them just wanted something to do, because the thought of sitting at home, not working, was bringing them down,” said Nicole. As a result, some cleaners were redeployed to other ASRC operations, including delivery driving, working in the warehouse organising food and material items, and making emergency packages. Others were redeployed to ASRC Catering to support the meals services for Melbourne customers.
As part of ASRC Cleaning’s mission to create employment pathways for people seeking asylum, the organisation is dedicated to safeguarding the well-being of its 40 cleaners - especially during times of crisis and uncertainty. “The whole organisation is designed to support our cleaners, and help them gain employment in Australia so they feel they can fully be part of the community,” said Hannah Crabb, ASRC Cleaning Coordinator.
ASRC Cleaning will continue to expand its commercial arm of the enterprise as they develop a plan out of the pandemic. But thanks to the community of compassion who stands side by side with the ASRC in every challenge, ASRC Cleaning is set to emerge as an even stronger and more impactful enterprise. Staff members, cleaners, volunteers and generous donors, have pulled together to continue creating social good and employment opportunities for people seeking asylum in Australia. The team couldn’t be more grateful for the 110,000 plus hours of paid employment the community has made possible.
What the ASRC Cleaning staff says:
“ASRC Cleaning has helped me a lot, and because of this job I can now fulfil my daughter’s needs and I can buy whatever she needs.”
“After not working for a long period of time, not earning any income, life was difficult, but now I am so grateful I can earn an income with ASRC Cleaning.”
“Having a job during the hardest months of this pandemic means more than just surviving with an income for me. This job has helped me realise that I want to work in a positive and embracing work environment such as ASRC. This has been a noteworthy experience and a stepping stone towards my future as a person and a professional.”