Low-paid cleaners have accused the Living Wage Foundation of awarding certification to an "uncaring" outsourcing company that paid less than the living wage.

Facility services giant OCS has received recognition for outsourcing companies’ customized program. But the company has only pledged to pay a living wage to centrally employed workers. The plan does not cover most of OCS's 50,000 employees because they are tied to outside contracts.

OCS staff cleaning British Airways headquarters and its Heathrow offices are paid just £11.44 an hour, the minimum wage allowed by the government. Their wages are below the foundation's current living wage, which is £12.60 an hour in the UK and £13.85 an hour in London.

OCS, which posted UK operating profits of £28.3m in 2023, said on its website it was "supporting fair wages" as part of the programme. One cleaner, who asked not to be named, claimed the reality was very different from the image presented to the world by OCS (formerly Office Cleaning Services): "It's not true... they treat us like slaves... it's very, very "Unfair."

She claimed the cleaner's repeated requests for a pay rise were ignored. Workers have joined the Unite union and are currently voting for strike action. "We've been fighting for a raise for three years. We've written letters. We've spoken to managers," she said. "No one took any action, so we all joined the union to fight back."

Some workers are struggling to pay rent, while others are turning to food banks. "Everything is more expensive now. Everyone is suffering. The wages are not enough for us. (OCS) is making a profit. They are benefiting from (our work). We are not getting anything," the worker added. "OCS doesn't care about us."

The cleaners, whose uniforms feature the British Airways logo, claim they have also been ignored by the airline. "They are also responsible. But they have not taken any action. They treat us as very lowly and cheap people. Everyone has the right to live equally," the worker said.

Cleaners work 12-hour shifts, including 6pm to 6am. They claimed they would not receive extra income for working through the night or on public holidays such as Christmas. Another cleaner, who asked not to be named, said: "We worked very hard. We made (OCS) a very wealthy company. But they never cared about us."

The Living Wage Foundation page on the OCS website states that the company is a "long-term defender of... the real living wage" and that it is working with the foundation "to defend the living wage one contract at a time."

The foundation accredits some of the UK's largest outsourcing companies under its Service Provider scheme, which is separate from its Living Wage Employer accreditation. Accredited outsourcing companies are required to offer living wage options when trying to win contracts, but they do not have to guarantee a living wage to employees on client contracts.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham called on the foundation to clean up its act and stop "ethically cleansing" the reputations of companies such as OCS. By denying workers a decent wage, she said, companies are cynically increasing their already huge profits at the expense of a dedicated, loyal workforce.

"It is disgraceful that these workers are not being paid a decent wage. British Airways and OCS are both extremely wealthy and fully capable of paying their workers fairly and decently."

An OCS spokesman said any claims would be taken seriously, adding: "Our first priority is the welfare of our colleagues. To support this we have a range of initiatives, including schemes to help improve our financial position. We are also working with Clients work closely to ensure pay and conditions are consistent with contractual agreements and industry standards."

BA declined to comment.

The Living Wage Foundation said it works with service providers to promote living wage jobs in some of the lowest paid industries.

A spokesperson said: "Working with more than 190 high-profile service providers, we have identified an additional 130,000 jobs where real living wages have improved."

"We know the impact this has on workers and their families and we will continue to work with leading service providers to drive more employment opportunities that meet the cost of living and provide people with their daily needs."