Cabin crew layoff: Nufam challenges Malindo’s denial
25 August 2017 Print page
KUALA LUMPUR: National Union of Flight Attendants Malaysia (Nufam) is challenging Malindo Air to issue an apology instead of denying that the airlines had laid off a total of 37 trainee cabin crew two weeks into their training session.
“We would like to challenge their denial. We have proof of complaint and recording of the affected parties. It should issue an apology instead of denying,” said Nufam president Ismail Nasaruddin.
He said this in view of two batches of trainees who were laid off of their jobs. The first batch had 17 people and the second, 20 people.
Yesterday media reports stated Malindo Air’s denial of the layoffs.
Nasaruddin also told Berita Daily that not all of the affected crew members were informed of Malindo Air’s decision.
“Some of them were not even notified of their termination. On our part we have written reports to the Human Resources Ministry and the Transport Ministry. The Labour Department will be investigating the matter,” he said.
“Most of them had to resign from other airlines and industries because they wanted to join Malindo Air,” he added.
Nasaruddin also said that this was not the first time Malindo Air had violated interview sessions.
In April this year, the airline came under fire when it was revealed that Malindo Air conducted grooming check that required female flight attendant job applicants to strip down to their bra.
“Now they are bullying trainees by violating the trainees by cuting off their services after two to three weeks of training,” he said.
A copy of a letter from Malindo Air confirmed that due payment including salary would be given to the affected workers.
Earlier today, PSM called upon the Human Resources Ministry to investigate the case and uphold the rights of the Malindo Air employees.
“The management has to adhere to proper procedures prior to terminating employees, and we condemn such irresponsible behaviour of the management,” said PSM secretary general A Sivarajan in a statement.
“Immaterial if the employee was under training or under probation, but the dismissal of an employee must be done with just cause and excuse. Malindo’s action seems arbitrary and indicates unfair labour practice.
“PSM thus calls on the Human Resources Ministry to investigate such practices by the Malindo Air management in order the protect and uphold the rights of its employees from being bullied.”
A Malindo Air spokesperson was reported in a news portal as denying claims that it sacked 30 of their staff after they underwent two to three weeks’ training.
“This is not true,” the spokesperson for Malindo Air’s public relations and communications unit was quoted as saying in FMT.
“We did the needful based on the employment contract,” the spokesperson added.
Source : http://www.beritadaily.com/cabin-crew-layoff-nufam-challenges-malindos-denial/