Hemfrid advertises top conditions, linked to under-the-table jobs

Maria, a 50-year-old Russian asylum seeker fleeing political persecution, described her initial experience in Sweden as feeling like a "newborn" vulnerable to exploitation. Placed in a Migration Agency asylum accommodation near Västerås, she sought work and was given the number of a cleaning company.

She was told she would have to work for free for the first three days, a practice described to her as "standard in Sweden." However, she never received any payment for her labor. Maria's experience highlights a darker side to the service industry, contrasting sharply with the advertised conditions of major players.

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They said I would have to work for free for the first three days, that it was 'standard in Sweden.' Then I would start getting paid, but I never did.

Sweden's largest home cleaning company, Hemfrid, promotes "some of the industry's best conditions" for its employees, including collective agreements and competitive wages. However, when a potential customer inquires about a move-out cleaning service through Hemfrid's website, the job is subcontracted via its sister company, Qleano. Qleano acts as a matching service, connecting customers with numerous cleaning firms across the country.

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We were not treated like humans. We were like animals, like slaves.

A DN investigation found that booking the same service through Hemfrid, with Qleano as an intermediary, cost more than double what it would cost to book directly with a subcontractor. For a 40-square-meter apartment in central Stockholm, Hemfrid quoted 3,812 kronor after tax deductions, while a direct booking with a subcontractor in Järfälla cost 1,400 kronor.

Maria worked for one such subcontractor. Her workday could start as early as 4 a.m. and last until 10 p.m. She described the work as physically demanding but said the most difficult memories were the feelings of humiliation. "We were not treated like humans. We were like animals, like slaves," she recounted, adding that many feared their boss and the loss of their jobs. Maria reported instances of employees working without contracts and described a culture of fear and exploitation.

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We were not treated like humans. We were like animals, like slaves. Many were afraid of our boss, of losing their jobs.