# Contract Cleaning ERO 2026 | Contract Cleaning Minimum Wage URL: https://dublincleaners.ie/blog/contract-cleaning-pay-rates-2026/ > Contract Cleaning ERO: €14.80 an hour from 1 January 2026, minimum wage €14.94 from January 2027, and what it means for prices. Call 01 230 8646. News # Contract Cleaning ERO 2026: €14.80 Now, Minimum Wage €14.94 From January 2027 ![Lana, founder of Dublin Cleaners](/img/lana-founder-dublin-cleaners-96.webp)By [Lana](/author/lana/), Founder of dublincleaners.ieUpdated 14 November 2026 Quick answer Under the **Contract Cleaning ERO** (S.I. 430 of 2025), contract cleaners must be paid at least **€14.80 an hour from 1 January 2026**. The national minimum wage is **€14.15 in 2026** and rises to **€14.94 from 1 January 2027**, which will put it above the ERO rate unless the ERO is updated. Checked **14 November 2026**. Key takeaways - The Department of Enterprise confirmed the contract cleaning ERO rate of €14.10 from 17 October 2025, rising to €14.80 on 1 January 2026. - SIPTU says the ERO covers more than 30,000 contract cleaners and adds €1.00 an hour for work between midnight and 6am. - RTÉ reported the national minimum wage rising to €14.15 an hour from 1 January 2026. - The Irish Times' Budget 2027 summary lists a 79 cent rise taking the minimum wage to €14.94 from 1 January 2027. - Azets calculates that a 39-hour week at minimum wage rises from €551.85 to €582.66 gross in 2027. - The Labour Court listed S.I. 430 of 2025 as the contract cleaning ERO in force when checked on 14 November 2026. - €14.80 Contract Cleaning ERO minimum from 1 January 2026 Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment - €14.15 National minimum wage in 2026 RTÉ, Budget 2026 - €14.94 National minimum wage from 1 January 2027 The Irish Times, Budget 2027 - 30,000+ Contract cleaners covered by the ERO SIPTU The contract cleaning ERO sets the legal pay floor for more than 30,000 cleaners employed by cleaning companies in Ireland. Since 1 January 2026, that floor is €14.80 an hour. On 1 January 2027 the national minimum wage rises to €14.94, overtaking it. We checked both figures on official and news sources on 14 November 2026. ## What is the contract cleaning ERO rate in 2026? The contract cleaning ERO rate is €14.80 an hour from 1 January 2026. The Department of Enterprise confirmed that the order, which commenced on 17 October 2025, set a minimum of €14.10 an hour, rising to €14.80 on 1 January 2026. The order is S.I. 430 of 2025. SIPTU, which negotiated the order through the Joint Labour Committee, says it covers more than 30,000 cleaners. It also introduced an unsocial hours allowance from 17 October 2025: an extra €1.00 an hour for all hours worked between midnight and 6am. When we checked on 14 November 2026, the Labour Court still listed S.I. 430 of 2025 as the contract cleaning ERO in force. No newer contract cleaning order appeared on its list. These rates sit underneath every quote for [office cleaning in Dublin](/office-cleaning/), including ours. A business comparing contract prices is, in part, comparing how each supplier covers this legal minimum. ## How does the ERO compare with the national minimum wage? In 2026 the ERO rate sits 65 cent above the national minimum wage. RTÉ reported that the minimum wage rose to €14.15 an hour from 1 January 2026. From 1 January 2027, the minimum wage rises to €14.94, which is 14 cent above the current ERO rate. Date National minimum wage Contract Cleaning ERO Higher floor 17 October 2025 €13.50 €14.10 ERO 1 January 2026 €14.15 €14.80 ERO 1 January 2027 €14.94 €14.80 (unless updated) Minimum wage The Irish Times’ Budget 2027 summary lists the 79 cent rise to €14.94 from 1 January. The Low Pay Commission had recommended the same figure in July 2026. Adult employees are entitled to at least the national minimum wage, so from January 2027 the legal floor for contract cleaners becomes €14.94 unless a new ERO sets more. ## How much does a full-time contract cleaner earn under the ERO? A full-time contract cleaner on the ERO minimum earns €577.20 a week gross in 2026, based on 39 hours at €14.80. From January 2027, the same 39-hour week at the new minimum wage of €14.94 comes to €582.66, the figure Azets gives in its Budget 2027 employer guide. Night work adds to that. Under the ERO, each hour between midnight and 6am carries an extra €1.00, so an hour on a night shift costs at least €15.80 in 2026. Many contract cleaners work part-time split shifts, early morning and evening, so weekly pay varies widely with hours. ## What does the pay change mean for cleaning prices? Higher pay floors push up the cost of every cleaning hour. Azets calculates that a 39-hour week at minimum wage rises from €551.85 to €582.66 gross in 2027. A company also pays employer PRSI, holiday pay, travel time between sites, insurance and products on top of the hourly wage. That is why an agency or contract rate sits well above the wage itself. Revenue’s reduced VAT rate of 13.5% applies to cleaning services, so a VAT-registered company adds that too, unless its prices already include it. Our own office rate is €30 an hour with a 2-hour minimum, with any VAT already included. For households, the same floor sits under house cleaning prices. The [guide to cleaner costs per hour in Dublin](/guide/cleaner-cost-per-hour-dublin/) compares independent cleaners, agencies and companies. ## Who does the contract cleaning ERO cover? The ERO covers workers employed by businesses in the contract cleaning industry, meaning companies that clean other organisations’ premises under contract. It does not cover a cleaner a householder employs directly, or a self-employed cleaner. Those workers fall under the national minimum wage and general employment law instead. For a business buying cleaning, the ERO matters in two ways. A contract price below what the legal wage, PRSI and holiday pay add up to is a warning sign. And night cleaning between midnight and 6am carries the extra €1.00 an hour, which affects quotes for overnight work. ## What should businesses check before renewing a cleaning contract? Check that the quote reflects 2027 pay rates, whether VAT is included and what happens if the ERO changes mid-contract. A contract signed in late 2026 runs into the January 2027 minimum wage rise. Ask the supplier how its rate changes on 1 January. Ask for the hours behind the price, not only the monthly total. A price that only works by cutting time on site usually shows up as missed tasks. The [office cleaning cost guide](/guide/office-cleaning-cost-dublin/) sets out typical Dublin office cleaning prices. We will update this article if the Labour Court or the Department of Enterprise publishes a new contract cleaning ERO, or if the 2027 rate changes before it takes effect. Want a fixed price instead? Call 01 230 8646. Give us the bedrooms, bathrooms and area, and we will give you a price on the phone. [01 230 8646](tel:+35312308646)[Request quote](/contact/) ## Frequently asked questions What is the contract cleaning minimum wage in 2026? €14.80 an hour from 1 January 2026, under the Contract Cleaning Employment Regulation Order, S.I. 430 of 2025. The Department of Enterprise confirmed the rate. It applies to adult workers employed by contract cleaning companies, and sits above the 2026 national minimum wage of €14.15. What happens to cleaners' pay on 1 January 2027? The national minimum wage rises to €14.94 an hour. That is 14 cent above the current ERO rate of €14.80. Adult employees are entitled to at least the national minimum wage, so contract cleaners must be paid at least €14.94 unless a new ERO sets a higher rate. Does the ERO apply to a cleaner I hire for my home? No. The ERO covers workers employed by contract cleaning businesses. A cleaner you employ directly at home is covered by the national minimum wage and other employment law. A self-employed cleaner sets their own price. Either way, a rate below the minimum wage is a warning sign. Is there extra pay for night cleaning? Yes. SIPTU says the ERO introduced an unsocial hours allowance from 17 October 2025: an extra €1.00 an hour for all hours worked between midnight and 6am. That matters for offices, shops and clinics that want cleaning done overnight, outside trading hours. Will office cleaning prices go up in 2027? Many companies review prices each January when pay floors change. The 2027 minimum wage rise is about 1% above the current ERO rate, plus knock-on costs such as holiday pay. Dublin Cleaners' office rate is €30 an hour with a 2-hour minimum, with any VAT already included. ## Sources 1. [Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Minister Dillon approves new Employment Regulation Order for the contract cleaning industry](https://enterprise.gov.ie/en/news-and-events/department-news/2025/september/20250919.html) (2025-09-19) 2. [SIPTU, Major pay increases secured for over 30,000 contract cleaners](https://www.siptu.ie/major-pay-increases-secured-for-over-30000-contract-cleaners/) (2025-10-17) 3. [Labour Court, Employment Regulation Orders](https://www.labourcourt.ie/en/industrial-relations/employment-regulation-orders/) (2026-11-14) 4. [RTÉ, Minimum wage set to increase to €14.15 an hour in 2026](https://www.rte.ie/news/budget-2026/2025/1007/1537071-budget-2026-tax/) (2025-10-07) 5. [The Irish Times, Budget 2027 main points](https://www.irishtimes.com/your-money/2026/10/06/budget-ireland-2027-main-points/) (2026-10-06) 6. [The Irish Times, Increase of 79c per hour to minimum wage recommended by pay commission](https://www.irishtimes.com/business/work/2026/07/16/increase-of-79c-per-hour-to-minimum-wage-recommended-to-minister-by-pay-commission/) (2026-07-16) 7. [Azets, Budget 2027 payroll and employer guide](https://www.azets.com/en-ie/resources/budget-2027-payroll-employer-guide) (2026-10-29) 8. [Revenue, Current VAT rates](https://www.revenue.ie/en/vat/vat-rates/search-vat-rates/current-vat-rates.aspx) (2026-11-14) ![Lana, founder of Dublin Cleaners](/img/lana-founder-dublin-cleaners-192.webp) About the author: [Lana](/author/lana/) Founder of dublincleaners.ie, Lana's company brings expertise in both residential and commercial cleaning services fostering a clean, healthy environment. Outside of work, you'll often find her hitting the gym or immersing herself in invigorating body balance classes.