Heard of a recent thread from some folks in SIA. Can any kind souls from GWA confirm this. Seems like it is getting out of control...
An expatriate pilot resigns recently, after being accepted by a HK company. After the three months' notice, GWA magt, in short Singapore Python, demands 1.9 million RMB for compensation from that pilot.
That pilot is an experienced pilot with thousands of hours. Singapore Python bonds this chap for three years at about USD90,000 reducing bond, with a bank guarantee of SGD35,000 for the B747-400 type-rating.
After two years with the company, he cannot accept all the !!!!s in GWA and found a better job. He resigns. He paid USD30, 000, inclusive of his SGD 35,000 bank guarantee, to GWA. Another USD30,000 is paid by that HK company to GWA as a kind gesture to that chap, on the basis that he joins that HK company. That clears his bond.
However, at the end of the three months' notice, GWA's Singapore Python refuses to give this chap a release letter, to indicate that he no longer has any contractual issues with GWA. Singapore Python demands a ransom of 1.9 million RMB for this letter.
The HK company is operating Chinese registered aircrafts. Thus, the HK company requires that poor chap to get a release letter from GWA. This requirement is only a recommendation by the authorities to reduce proaching of local Chinese pilots. It is the intention of the local civil aviation authorities that this recommendation only applies to local, and not expatriates. Nevertheless, without the release letter, the HK company cannot receive that chap's 'employment records' in China. Which means, he cannot start work with the HK company.
Filing a law suit, would take this poor chap one to two years to settle. Meantime, he will have no income. Thus, he opts to withdraw his resignation from GWA. Singapore Python agrees to accept this chap, only at the bottom of the salary scale. Furthermore, he is not returning the USD60000 back to that poor chap. They intend to keep the money. Thus, even if that poor chap stays in GWA to continue his service for another one or two years, GWA is not returning any single cents of the USD 60,000 to him. He now owns another USD 30,000 to the HK company.
Wonder what happens next....
Also heard that even for guys who has no bond or contractual issues, GWA is still not issuing this letter. As such, these guys will never be able to find another job in China forever in their lifetime.
The good news is Air China, China Eastern, Hainan Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, China Cargo, Jade Cargo, OKair is not applying this ruling to expatriate pilots. In fact, only GWA is doing this..........
AJ