So the plan is that SIA will pay staff as little as possible each month. The rest of the "package" will be held back by "the world's most profitable airline" just in case some unforseen event happens to reduce the profits. That way you don't have to steal it back from the staff because you haven't given it to them in the first place! Brilliant!!!!
Better still, if it looks like the profits are going to be too high (don't want to have to pay those lazy egotists too much bonus) they can exercise those stunning management skills by investing in say, Air New Zealand. Perhaps they should start a new trend with something called a LOW WAGE CARRIER! Pussy Airways perhaps?
If they really screw it up and have to pay a bonus they could put a maximum ceiling on it, pay some at the end of the year but hold some back for another six months just in case anybody gets "confrontational". Sound familiar?
This is all entirely reasonable. So much so that it could be done the other way round. Pay the staff 6 months bonus at the start of the year. If times are hard and profits not so good the staff will pay some of the bonus back at the end of the year..... and some more six months later. Government ministers could join in with abusive comments about the SIA management and we could bond all senior managers in the company to make sure that they can't leave.
SIA should not stop at running airlines. They have the mentality and HR skills to run a very good double glazing company, or even a used car dealership!