MAS staff welfare to be discussed in Cabinet soon, says Khairy

UMNO Youth Chief Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar will table the proposal from National Union of Flight Attendants Malaysia (NUFAM) to the Cabinet this Friday regarding the re-employment status of thousands of Malaysia Airlines (MAS) staff who could be laid off under the national carrier’s restructuring exercise.

In a closed-door meeting between the UMNO wing and NUFAM in Kuala Lumpur Wednesday, Khairy said he has received a memorandum from NUFAM, urging Khazanah Nasional Berhad (Khazanah) to give its utmost attention to the welfare of more than 6,000 MAS employees who would be affected by the new strategic move.

"So far, everyone is in the dark as to what are the details of the re-employment plan.

"We understand that Khazanah wanted to absorb some of its staff to a new company. Some of them are being offered short-term working contract.

"How about the fate of those who will be terminated without any job offers in the wings?, " said Khairy.

Khairy also added that the heightened uncertainties had raised a series of questions among the staff who have sought clarification on several mattes including compensations, trainings and job placements.

"We are hoping that this issue will be solved as painless as possible," said Khairy.

"These staff have specialised skills in the field of aviation services and is not easy for them to seek for new jobs which are totally detached from their know-hows. Many of them were trained in the field right after they sat for their SPM examinations,” he said.

Meanwhile, NUFAM President Ismail Nasaruddin said that MAS had retracted its previous layoff letter in order to make some adjustments in the packages offered.

"They will hold back the letter until further notice. I believe this is a sign of them trying to improve the terms of the retrenchment.

"However, the concern that we have raised to Khairy was on post-termination process, especially on how they can move on," said Ismail adding that he is grateful of UMNO Youth intervention.

He added, NUFAM received many queries and complaints from employees who are concerned about their future and well-being.

“Some of them are single mothers and also married couples who had been with MAS for so long. What will happen if both dismissed?” he concluded.