Coronavirus
I think the fact that different English speaking countries use different words for the same things is lost on you. For instance, the word redundant is not used in the American version of English language the same as the word layoff is not in the England english. Examples are too numerous to list. ALL of those companies that use the word redundant vs layoff WILL be calling those who have been made redundant before they hire off the street again. Perfect and very recent example is Emirates. Another closer to home is cathay itself. After having made redundant a very small number of pilots back in October, they did recall some of them back to work. So no, when you're made redundant, you're not the same as fired. You're just sent home without pay until further notice, which may or may not ever come and you may or may not decide to come back. This is exactly how a layoff works in the US. I've worked under different contracts in different parts of the world for too damn long and this is how it works. They all have their own silly language to say the same things.
The breakeven calculation most airlines use when hiring pilots is if you stay for at least 2 years it's been worth the training costs for them to hire you. So if they think the chances of you being recalled and going back are not likely in the next 2 years, yes they will still hire you.