Why do cleaners earn more than childcarers

Supply and damand? Probably more people want to look after children than clean, maybe it's a nicer job and more rewarding. My cleaner works magic in my house, does in four hours what would take me several days so worth the money for the time it saves me.

Because we still live in a patriarchal society which places less value on women and children than it does on men and the things they hold dear.

I studied childcare and my Norweigan (male) tutor was very vocal about what he saw as our pretty fucked up way of viewing the value of children and those who took care of them (mainly women). If we really valued children, we would invest in them (are you listening Mr. Cameron and whoever comes next and next and next. That investment would come in many guises, providing good quality parental leave, excellent pre-school care and a state care system, not just fit for purpose (ours is not) but that demonstrates belief in our children as our best and most valued resource.

Round here a nanny-housekeeper is paid around £2ph more than a cleaner. Obviously there is tax etc on top of that but still getting just £2ph more to perform the majority of the tasks performed by a cleaner and then look after a number of dc all day?

I am not sure what the logic is but it seems very strange to me. I suppose it is something to do with affordability scales?

I pay my cleaner and part-time nanny the same per hour. Childcare is a job some people really love. Cleaning is much harder work. Also childcare can have it's relaxing moments. eg nanny watches ITV2 while the baby's asleep, and has time for a nice stroll in the park with the buggy. My cleaner has to work the whole time, she doesn't even stop for a coffee. I know which I would rather do for £8 per hour.

It's not really an hourly rate though as you can have more than one child in your care in any one hour. You can't clean in more than one place at a time.

Oh and a childminder looks after several children at the same time. A cleaner can't exactly clean several houses at the same time, now can she?!

Well a cleaner will generally pay their own tax, etc.

They only get paid for the hours they clean, not travelling from one job to another.

It's a physical job, the WHOLE time.

It's a grotty job, pretty much the whole time.

They have to work with nasty chemicals.

And probably lots more reasons!!!!!