"I'm like a Superwoman." How a former librarian works as a cleaner in Bialystok - how she copes and how much she earns

If a resident slips, the worker will be held responsible

Valeryia has to get up at five in the morning — paths near the entrances must be clean before residents go outside.

After that, the Belarusian woman goes home to get her children ready for school and kindergarten, and then returns to work.

— I've been living in Poland since the beginning of the war [in Ukraine], and this is the first winter that's been so snowy — like from my childhood. We were so happy then not to have to go to school, — Valeryia recalls. — But now I understand how much work I have ahead of me — it's physically demanding, because every morning I have to swing a shovel: my wrists, arms, and muscles ache.

In addition to clearing snow, Valeryia also has to sprinkle sand on the paths. She carries it in a large bucket. If a resident slips, falls, and gets injured, Valeryia will be held responsible.

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Valeryia. Photo: MOST

"I have to change shirts several times a day, because it's hot"

We go outside with the Belarusian woman. In the morning, the yard is empty; only one of the city residents is smoking a cigarette near the entrance.

Valeryia takes a shovel and begins to clear the path. The temperature is around minus eight degrees; after a few minutes, the frost begins to prick her cheeks, another moment — and her toes freeze. The Belarusian woman doesn't feel it, because she is moving constantly.

— I even have to change shirts several times a day, because it's hot. And I also noticed how my arms have become strong over the years of work — real muscles have appeared, and I like it. And I don't need to go to the gym, — Valeryia smiles.

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The yard Valeryia cleans. Photo: MOST

The kindergarten where the Belarusian woman's daughter goes is very close by. Valeryia notices her daughter, who has been taken out for a walk, and waves to her.

— [Other] cleaners work on a different schedule. I start my shift earlier to have time to take the children to kindergarten and pick them up afterward — I arranged it with the management. I never even make it to general staff meetings; I only go to the administration afterward to sign that I was on shift, — says the Belarusian woman.

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Valeryia at work. Photo: MOST

"I get slightly more than the minimum wage in hand"

By education, Valeryia is a librarian. The Belarusian woman also completed design courses, but emigration made its adjustments to her plans. The girl needed stable work to have money for raising children and renting an apartment.

— I've been working as a cleaner for three years now. And only recently did I get an employment contract (with full social guarantees. — Note by MOST) — it became much calmer. The first perks have already started, for example, before the holidays, I received a bonus. And finally, they issued boots and a jacket — I used my own before. But the salary remained the same — a lot is eaten up by taxes. So I receive slightly more than the minimum wage in hand — about 3600 zlotys (about 2850 rubles).

Valeryia recalls that once she couldn't stand it and quit. The reason was conflicts with other cleaners. They didn't like how the Belarusian woman performed her duties when she took their shifts.

— At that time, I had been working for two years straight — I felt hurt that I was responsible about my work, but people who had never even seen me were complaining about me. At some point, I couldn't bear it and texted the management that I wouldn't come to work anymore, — says the Belarusian woman.

Then Valeryia went to clean private homes. It was physically difficult for the girl, the work was far from home, and the salary was paid "in hand."

— They called me several times from my old job, promising a contract and asking me to come back — I refused. Then I still decided to return because I love my job, — says Valeryia.

Clean over 7 thousand square meters

Each cleaner has a separate small room on the basement floor. There you can rest, have a snack, or simply warm up. Valeryia has seen her colleagues' rooms — some decorate them, making them "their own." The Belarusian woman hasn't had time to do this yet, as she only recently received her room.

— Three buildings with 19 entrances were assigned to me — which is even above the norm. When I read the contract, I was very surprised to see the number of square meters — 7.3 thousand! It turns out I'm like a Superwoman — cleaning such a large area.

Among the main duties of the Belarusian woman is washing the entrances twice a month, as well as cleaning the garbage rooms. Depending on the season, other tasks are added: in summer and spring — weeding grass, in autumn — collecting leaves.

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Valeryia in her room. Photo: MOST

"There are entrances where you barely need to clean"

At nine o'clock, Valeryia makes coffee — she says she hasn't had time for breakfast yet. It's almost hot in the room, so she has to open the window to let in fresh air. On the table are papers with stickers, where "Thank you for wiping your shoes" is written in Polish. Valeryia herself designed and printed the stickers out of her own initiative — she sticks them near the entrances so that residents pay attention to cleanliness.

— Snow is not just water, but also salt and sand that remain in the entrances — all this needs to be washed. In houses where residents keep dogs, it's dirtier — because animals carry all this on their paws, and fur collects in the corners. But there are entrances where you barely need to clean — because responsible and kind people live there who themselves look after the cleanliness, — the Belarusian woman explains.

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Stickers. Photo: MOST

Valeryia adds that she already knows all the residents of the entrances she cleans. Her relationship with the Belarusians is good — the residents of Bialystok always greet her when they see her.

— And I always cuddle dogs, because I love them very much, — the Belarusian woman smiles.

"I collect doormats"

When working days are less strenuous (most often when the weather permits), Valeryia listens to podcasts or music in parallel. In winter, it's more difficult because of the many layers of clothing.

During breaks, the girl studies Spanish using an app on her phone. She wants her mind to be challenged too.

— But overall, the work of a cleaner really helps to clear your thoughts, because your main tasks are physical. I also developed a hobby — I collect doormats near doors. Over the years of work, I've found so many funny and cool ones — I even created a separate folder on my phone for pictures.

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Her boyfriend works on a garbage truck — they saw each other every day during shifts

While the girl rests before her next outdoor shift, she recalls how she met her boyfriend during shifts last year. Her boyfriend, Uladzislau, works on a garbage truck.

— We saw each other every day, because he was sent to my area — we always greeted each other and chatted, it was great. But these meetings literally lasted a minute or two; as soon as they finished loading the containers, they immediately left. Now Uladzislau is sent to a different area, so this winter we don't see each other at all during work.

The cleaner's job is tough. The Belarusian woman admits that her children, friends, relationships, and beloved hobby (Valeryia makes straw spiders) — these are what help her endure. Without them, the girl is convinced, she would fall into a depressive state.

— Where would my children go without me — to Belarus? That's why I hold on, — the girl says. — I know that winter is temporary and it will definitely end. After it, spring will come anyway.

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