SOAS Cleaners Allege Unfair Treatment Against SOAS Management
By Nibras Salim, SOAS News Editor, BA Politics & International Relations and Siddhant Pawar, BSC Politics, Philosophy and Economics
SOAS cleaning staff have raised two formal complaints, alleging unfair treatment against SOAS management. The first complaint, reported in October 2025, raised allegations of bullying and harassment against SOAS management. The second complaint, reported in November 2025, alleged xenophobia due to the fact that cleaners were prevented from speaking Spanish in their team meetings. In response, campus staff have mobilised through Justice for Workers (J4W), a student-staff advocacy group, which has campaigned to secure a more inclusive and collaborative working environment.
The bullying and harassment complaint raised in October 2025 stemmed from a disagreement over poor working conditions for cleaners. According to J4W, many SOAS cleaners feel like they are being overworked due to the significant downsize in staff numbers, resulting in increasingly intense work schedules. This downsize occurred in May 2024, when the cleaning workforce was reduced from 50 to 20 staff members.
When verbal complaints were raised about the resulting increases in workload, the cleaning staff felt that their concerns were not taken seriously and mocked.
The second complaint made in November 2025 was raised after an incident in which a member of the cleaning staff was asked to leave an official meeting for not conversing in English. This is despite the fact that the university has knowingly hired cleaners that lack proficiency in English. According to SOAS cleaning staff statistics, only four members of the SOAS cleaning team are able to speak English fluently.
Antonia Bright, co-branch secretary of SOAS Unison (the recognised trade union for professional and support staff at SOAS), pointed to the irony of a so-called ‘World’s University’ imposing such constraints on its immigrant workforce. The issues surrounding this language dispute were further exacerbated following the university's refusal to continue the provision of English lessons for cleaners, despite the existence of a written agreement. Cleaners have argued that restrictions placed on their ability to use their native Spanish language in the workplace has impacted their productivity and morale. At times this has also provoked safety concerns; for example, many cleaners were unable to comprehensively understand health and safety training (which was carried out in English) in relation to handling chemicals.
The Spirit asked the University for a response regarding the two recent allegations:
‘We are committed to maintaining a fair, respectful and inclusive workplace for all our employees. There are clear procedures for staff to raise concerns, as outlined in our agreed Grievance Policy which is made available to all staff. While we cannot comment on individual cases, every case is responded to, and appropriate support is provided to staff.’
These allegations made by cleaning staff concerning their unfair treatment from SOAS management are not new. They, along with J4W, continue to demand that the university ends its alleged language discrimination, as well as discrimination against cleaners who are sick. Additionally, J4W has called for an immediate meeting with the director of the SOAS HR Department, and requested that the university properly and transparently investigates all cases of grievances that have been alleged by cleaning staff.
