Originally Posted by
EddyTemple
There has been some pretty unfair treatment recently in the way HKA have laid off some of our pilots and the point being raised is Permanent Residents verses Work Permits.
The Hong Kong Government strongly advocates that employers must give first preference to the local work force for filling job vacancies.
The aviation sector in Hong Kong has largely been left alone in this area because there has been a shortage of locally qualified pilots since the inception of aviation in Hong Kong. Other industries have long been extremely protective and advocate locals first for many different positions.
The work force is shrinking and everyone is trying to hang on to what ever they can get, but if you are a
PR Holder or HK Passport Holder now is the time to rejoice.
I have had numerous calls and e-mails with the labour department and immigration department this week and their stance is definitive when it comes to protecting the local work force and our rights.
Many of us have moved our families here, put children into new schools and made huge lifestyle adjustments, it is your right to be protected after you have done your 7 years, paid your taxes and decided to call Hong Kong home.
The labour department take the stance that a
PR holder cannot not be made redundant when the company is still exercising work permits for other employees of the same qualification.
Get on the phone to the labour tribunal / immigration department if your company starts furloughing
PR pilots while still employing others under the work permit scheme.
Hope this helps Good Luck
If there were to be redundancies etc etc those who would lose their jobs would have been in Cathay and Hong Kong less than 7 years. The time that it takes to get
PR! Further any Hong Kong citizen or
PR holder who was made redundant due to LIFO principal and contractural agreement would be most likely a Second Officer or Junior First Officer! The company and the government in my opinion would easily be able to issue work permits to more senior pilots especially those of the rank of Captain and SFOs & RQs who would be forced off the bases if such a thing were to happen as SOs and JFOs do not have the qualifications nor experience to perform these roles (at least that's how the legal argument would be made)
Now if they tried to lay off a
PR Captain in Hong Kong and replace him/her with a non
PR pilot on a work permit then in my opinion your argument would have merit, I just don't think that as it stands it does.