INTRODUCTION

The realm of housekeeping has witnessed a huge growth in

the trend of outsourced service. Housekeeping being a
labour intensive department housekeeper perceive
outsourcing as an effective business strategy , especially for
the continual maintenance of the public areas of their
properties . Most hotel chains all segment , have resorted to
outsourcing nowadays.
Today's housekeeping demands skilled specialization , which
in turn requires a sizeable investment in term of the
infrastructure and equipment required to achieve superior
result . The job generally outsourced are garden
maintenance, management of `wet areas` such as swimming
fool gym maintenance, laundry service façade, pest control
public area cleaning , horticulture
OUTSOURCING AND CONTRACTS

OUTSOURCING : is a conscious business decision to

move internal work to an external provider.
CONTRACT : is defined as an agreement between two
parties negotiating a business deal.

Both these term are now used interchangeably .However

, while all outsourcing involves a contract, all contract are
not necessarily related to outsourcing .
CONTRACT SERVICES IN
HOUSEKEEPING
CLEANING – Deep cleaning ,carpet & floor cleaning
LINEN HIRE- entire hotel linen or specialized linen like
banqueting items.
EQUIPMENT and FURNITURE HIRE
LAUNDRY- complete or part.
PEST CONTROL
HORITCULTURE and LANDSCAPING
FLOWER ARRANGEMENT and DECORTION
 STEP FOR HIRING CONTRACT PROVIDERS
1. Put out tender to least three contractors and compare quotes.
2. Check out their existing market credibility by contacting by
previous \current client.
3. Check references thoroughly and visit other job sites.
4. Check whether the contractor is registered and licensed under the
contractor labour act 1970. of the government of India.
5. Preferably a select a contract provider with a local office.
6. Check on the type and amount of training provided.
7. Check on the degree to which the contract provider undertaken
supervision of the work.
8. Prepare detailed contract specification ,indicating the exact
number of working hours ,area of operation and responsibility
,processes to be used, time table.
9. Consider the effect on existing labour with regard to possible
redundancy and redeployment.
LAUNDRY
It can be defined as a place where the
washing & finishing of clothes other
washable articles are carried out.

COMMERCIAL\OOF- SITE \CONTRACTED

LAUNDRIES
These cater to hotel on a contract basis . The contract
specifies the rate for laundering different articles of linen,
the time taken for laundry and so on . Usually the soiled
linen are laundered and delivered back to the hotels
within (24-48)hours. The laundries may , however hold
back 3-5 % of the soiled linen for stain removal and other
special treatment. Contract laundry are a good option if
the hotel does not want to make a heavy investment in
setting up its own laundry or space constraints.
Other service which are also goes on
contract in hotel are :

Pest control:- (Pest) is any organism that injures

human, domestic animals, desirable plants, structure, or
possession. Housekeeping department plays an
important role in detecting the presence of pests in or
around the establishment and organizing their control or
eradication.

Horticulture :- The science of growing plants or of

gardening.

Cleaning:- Is removal of dust ,dirt, foreign matter,

tarnish, and stains from surface with the aid of certain
cleaning agents and equipment.
These types of services are mostly done on contract
basis and with period of time and season.
ADVANTAGES OF CONTRACT

1. There is no capital outlay fort equipment ,so that money is

available for investment in other purpose.
2. There is no equipment lying idle.
3. Contract services alleviate many of the problem between
the management and worker’s union.
4. Knowledgeable expert can provide sound advice and help
reduce costs and legal risk.
5. The contractor are accountable for the result. Their worker
stay on the job until it is done.
6. Contract services can generally be terminated faster and
more easily than the services of regular employees.
7. Contract alleviate the necessity of buying or hiring
specialized equipment.
DISADVANTAGES OF CONTRACT

1. Workers may not show up within the designated time frame.

2. Contracting weakens the authority of the management over the
quality and loyalty of the staff.
3. There may be poor supervision ,with the standard of work
falling below par as a result.
4. There may be problem regarding security.
5. There may be problem regarding liaison and cooperation
between departments.
6. There may be poor tendency among contractor to use cheaper
products, which may of poor quality ,may damage the building
and its content in the long term.
7. There is loss of flexibility in effecting changes , as the
housekeeper no longer controls the entire operation.
PRICING OF CONTRACTS

The basis of payment for outsourced services may include one

or more of the following:-

1. A management fee for consultancy services.

2. A unit rate agreement.
3. A fixed period rate.
4. A cost for job plus a percentage of profit.
5. A cost for the job plus a fixed fee.
UNIT RATE AGREEMENTS
Most contract are agreed on unit rate basis . The executive
housekeeper provides details of be covered and the frequency of job,
and asks the service provider for the costs. The contractor measures
the area and calculate the cost thus .
man – hours = area x time x frequency
E.G. if a contracted firm has to clean five different areas, taking 2 hours each ,twice
a week ,then man hours will be calculated as-
man = 5 x 2 x 2hours
= 20 hours

Cost plus fixed fee

Better than the above mode of pricing is one in which the contractor
is paid for the costs of the job and given a fixed fee. In this case ,
there is no point in the contractor's cutting costs, as he has a
guaranteed profit margin.
 THE FUTURE OF CONTRACT SERVIECS

THE NUMBER OF COMPANIES OFERNING THE AMOUNT OUTSOURCING SERVICES

AND THE TYPES OF OUTSOURCING SERVIECS AVAILABLE ARE GROWING RAPIDLY
AND INDIA IS NOT LAGGING FAR BEHIND. MAJOR HOTELS AND CORPORATE
COMPANIES ARE RELYING MORE AND MORE ON OUTSOURCE PROFESSIONAL
HOUSEKEEPING SERVICE PROVIDER TO CATER TO THEIR NEED.

A STUDY OF BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES CONDUCTED BY KNIGHT

FRANK RERTY MANAGEMENT SERVICES IN THE USA IN THE YEAR 2000 FOUND THAT
44% OF THE EXECTUVIE HOUSEKEEPER SURVEYED OUTSOURCED MORE THAN
THEY USED TO FIVE YEARS BEFORE THE SURVEY.

HOWEVER , OUTSOURCING HAS NOT –AND IS UNLIKELY TO FORAY INTO THE CORE
AREAS OF HOUSEKEEPING THAT GO BEYOND SIMPLE PHYSICAL LABOUR AND
WHERE SERVICE ,AND SECURITY ARE OF PARAMOUNT CONCERN.