A new business support programme aimed at cleaners and home help workers in Preston is set to begin next week, offering practical guidance to those looking to start or develop a small cleaning business.
The Clean Collective aims to support sole traders and small local enterprises operating in the cleaning sector. The programme is being delivered through a partnership between Preston City Council, Preston Cooperative Development Network (PCDN) and Kind Communities.
Despite its scale and importance, wages in the cleaning sector are often close to the minimum wage, according to the Living Wage Foundation. The sector is also characterised by low visibility and limited access to business support. Its workforce is predominantly female, with many workers aged over 45 and from minoritised backgrounds.
The Clean Collective aims to address some of these challenges by helping cleaners navigate the practical and regulatory requirements of running a sustainable business. Participants will receive a mix of one-to-one mentoring and small group sessions covering areas such as business registration, insurance, DBS checks, tax responsibilities and relevant certifications, issues that can act as barriers to progression for people working independently.
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The programme builds on previous community-based business support initiatives and is designed for people who are already working as cleaners or considering moving into self-employment within the sector.
Workshops will take place at Preston Town Hall and are free of charge for Preston residents who meet the application criteria. Sessions are scheduled for:
Wednesday 14 January, 9.30am–12.30pm
Wednesday 21 January, 9.30am–12.30pm
Wednesday 28 January, 9.30am–12.30pm
Wednesday 4 February, 9.30am–12.30pm
Anyone interested in taking part can apply via an online registration form. For further information, contact Kind Communities at hello@kind-communities.org.
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<img src="https://www.mtlblog.com/media-library/quebec-flag-fluttering-in-the-wind-in-front-of-a-blue-glass-building.jpg?id=61195362&width=1200&height=800&coordinates=132%2C0%2C132%2C0"/><br/><br/><p>If you live in Quebec and work full-time or part-time, you're probably already familiar with the <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/quebec-stat-holidays-2025-calendar" target="_blank">usual statutory holidays</a> — New Year's Day, Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Christmas and so on. But the province's labour laws actually go further than just the basic statutory calendar.</p><p>Thanks to Quebec's <a href="http://legisquebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/showdoc/cs/n-1.1" target="_blank">Act respecting labour standards</a>, enforced by the Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (<a href="https://www.cnesst.gouv.qc.ca/en" target="_blank">CNESST</a>), employees have the legal right to take time off for a wide range of life events, including family emergencies, caregiving, a miscarriage, even getting married or attending a sibling's wedding. Some of these days are paid, others aren't — but either way, your job is protected.</p><p>Many workers don't realize these protections exist, or assume they need to use up vacation days when life happens. In reality, these kinds of absences are already built into Quebec's labour code. The only requirement is that you inform your employer as soon as possible and provide documentation if requested (like a hospital note or wedding invite).</p><p>With that in mind, here are seven lesser-known personal leaves that Quebec workers can legally take — according to Quebec’s official labour standards and the Act Respecting Labour Standards.</p><h3>Getting married or attending a family wedding</h3><br/><p>If you get married or enter a civil union, you're entitled to one paid day off. If you're attending your child's, sibling's, or parent’s wedding or civil union, you can take one unpaid day off.</p><p>In any case, you must inform your employer at least one week in advance, and the day of absence cannot be postponed to a date after the marriage or civil union.</p><h3>Birth or adoption</h3><br/><p>You're entitled to five days off when your child is born or adopted. The first two days are paid, and the leave must be used within 15 days of the event. This applies to both <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/quebec-family-allowance-july-2025" target="_blank">biological and adoptive parents</a>.</p><p>However, if a parent is already on maternity or paternity leave, they are not entitled to these five days.</p><h3>Family or caregiver leave</h3><br/><p>Every Quebec worker is entitled to 10 days per year to care for a family member or someone they support. You can take these in full or half days. The first two days must be paid if you've been with your employer for three months or more.</p><p>According to the <a href="https://www.cnesst.gouv.qc.ca/fr/definition/parent-0" target="_blank">CNESST</a>, these must be related to the care, health or education of one's child, the child of one's spouse, or the health of a parent or a person for whom one acts as a caregiver.</p><h3>Miscarriage or abortion</h3><br/><p>If it occurs before the 20th week of a pregnancy, you can take up to three weeks unpaid with proper documentation. After 20 weeks, you're eligible for up to 20 weeks of unpaid parental leave. If your partner was pregnant, you can also take five days off, two of which are paid.</p><h3>Death of a loved one</h3><br/><p>If your spouse, child, sibling, or parent passes away, you're allowed five days off, two of which must be paid. For other close relatives like grandparents, the law grants one unpaid day.</p><h3>Suicide of a close family member</h3><br/><p>You can take up to 104 weeks of unpaid leave if your spouse, child, or parent dies by suicide. This protection ensures job security during a long recovery period.</p><h3>Jury duty or being called to testify in court</h3><br/><p>If you're summoned to serve as a juror or to testify as a witness, your employer legally has to let you go — it's considered a civic duty in Quebec. While they're not required to pay you for the time you're away (unless it's written into a collective agreement), your job is protected and they can't fire or discipline you for missing work.</p><p>You may also be eligible for compensation from the government to help cover things like meals, lodging, or childcare while you're in court. </p><p><em>Love this? Check out our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/notices/" target="_blank">MTL Blog noticeboard</a> for details on jobs, benefits, travel info and more!</em></p><p><em>AI tools may have been used to support the creation or distribution of this content; however, it has been carefully edited and fact-checked by a member of MTL Blog's Editorial team. For more information on our use of AI, please visit our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/editorial-standards" target="_blank">Editorial Standards page</a>.</em></p>
