Harrods’ migrant cleaners scramble to cancel flights home after holiday capped at two weeks

Migrant cleaners at Harrods are preparing to strike over “discriminatory” holiday policy affecting black and Asian workers.

The “new” policy, which a United Voices of the World (UVW) union has described as “draconian”, limits workers’ holidays to a maximum of two weeks, restricting their ability to take time off to visit their families abroad.

Harrods’ facilities workers received notification of the guidelines in June, leaving those who had already paid for their flights scrambling to cancel or change their plans.

Maclino Rodrigues, who has worked as a night cleaner at Harrods for eight years, said: “I am a migrant worker with two children, our families are in India and traveling there is not easy. 

“The ticket prices are so high during the children’s school holiday. We can’t leave them here. 

“I haven’t seen my family for three years. We explained all of this.”

Harrods, which is celebrating its 175th anniversary this year, insists that the policy is not new, but an enforcement of existing policy.

A spokesman said: “Harrods clarified existing company policy, which limits holiday length during peak periods, as defined by the specific divisional needs of the business.”

But UVW said these employees often save for several years to travel long distances to visit their families and are unable to take several shorter trips in a year.  

Since the announcement, the workers claim Harrods has turned down holiday requests for longer than two weeks.

Agnelo Fernandes, a Harrods night cleaner of 10 years, said: “They are seeing us one by one and putting pressure on us to cancel our leave. 

“My wife is worried about the money we will lose if they decline our holidays for this year. If I have to change my tickets and purchase new tickets, I will lose £2,500. 

“We work so hard, if we lose this money – which is two months’ salary – it will be difficult to pay the bills.”

Despite raising concerns about this “unfair” policy through their union, UVW claims the luxury company has ignored the workers’ issues.

Cleaners have now instructed their UVW to send Harrods a Notice of Intention to Ballot (NOIB). Strike dates will be announced soon.

Petros Elia, general secretary of UVW Union, said:  “It would seem this is a clear case of discrimination against migrant workers, who have always been able to take extended holidays to visit their families. 

“This new policy could lead to a patently absurd and unconscionable situation where none of the facilities’ workers will ever be able to spend time with their families who live overseas. 

“This cannot be the intended or permissible consequence of this policy and could very easily amount to indirect race discrimination.”

Mr Elia said the dispute highlights a broader issue of how multimillion-pound companies “undermine the welfare of their migrant workforce”.

A spokesman from Harrods said it will not engage with UVW as it is not recognised by the company.

A spokesman said: “We continue to work with colleagues on an individual basis, and encourage colleagues who have concerns about their holiday or are concerned about being unable to take holidays, to speak to their manager.”

Pictured top: Harrods migrant workers (Picture: UVW)