Malindo staff decry unfair dismissal in wake of Covid-19

Some 100 Malindo Airways staff have reportedly filed a representation with the Industrial Relations Department for unfair dismissal after their contracts were prematurely terminated during the movement control order (MCO).

Online portal The Malaysian Insight (TMI) quoted an internal letter which informed employees - some whose contracts were not due to expire for another two years - of their sudden termination.

"In view of the Covid-19 outbreak, which continues to spread across the globe unabated, affecting both people and businesses, our company is severely impacted," said the letter, according to TMI.

It reported that the representation under Section 20 of the Industrial Relations Act 1967 was filed with the department’s Selangor chapter on June 1, and the airline has been summoned for a conciliation meeting on June 30.

The workers will be represented by the National Union of Flight Attendants Malaysia (Nufam) and its president Ismail Nasaruddin said that they have demanded an explanation over their premature termination without compensation.

Ismail said some of them were served the termination notice at the end of March, about halfway through their three-month unpaid leave.

This was despite the workers had agreed to go on unpaid leave to help alleviate the carrier’s financial woes brought on by the Covid-19 outbreak, he said.

"Moreover, they are still owed their salaries and previous flying allowances," he was quoted as saying, adding that some have backdated pay going back three months.

Under Section 20 of the Industrial Relations Act, an employee who is dismissed or who considers their dismissal to be without just cause or excuse may file a written representation to the director-general of industrial relations within 60 days of the date of their termination or during the period of their notice of dismissal.

It is understood that staff from various departments, including cabin crew, are affected by Malindo’s move.

More layoffs

Nufam will represent the laid-off staff at the June 30 meeting.

Ismail said the number of affected workers is expected to grow following Malindo's recently announced voluntary separation scheme (VSS).

Last week, a source told Malaysiakini that the VSS offer was made on May 29 through a company's memorandum to all of its employees, numbering around 5,000 ground and cabin crews.

In the memorandum, Malindo Air - a Malaysian hybrid full-service carrier owned by Indonesia's Lion Air Group - also explained its ailing financial position, which had been tremendously affected in the last five months, with no indication that it would recover in the next six to 12 months.

It added that the reduction of fleets by 50 percent has resulted in the company having too many employees. - Mkini