Tuesday, February 12, 2008 - fijitimes.com.fj
THE Transport Workers Union has called on Air Pacific Limited to reconsider their compulsory retirement age of 45 years or face losing staff to overseas airlines.
Union general secretary Kamlesh Kumar made the comment after United ArabEmirates' international carrier Emirates announced it would be conducting a recruitment drive for local cabin crew next week.
Emirates in an email and an advertisement said the airline's representatives would be at the Sheraton Fiji on Denarau on February 23 to recruit.
Mr Kumar said his understanding was that about 60 people would be recruited by the airline. "But I definitely see more Air Pacific staff applying for the posts of cabin crew with Emirates based on certain factors,' said Mr Kumar.
He claimed staff at Air Pacific were demoralised over the company's handling of recent problems.
Mr Kumar said another factor could be Air Pacific's compulsory retirement age of 45 years.
"While cabin crew at Air Pacific are required to retire from the service at the age of 45 years, Emirates does not have any compulsory retirement age," said Mr Kumar.
He said the open age criteria at the Emirates would be an attraction for interested locals. Mr Kumar urged Air Pacific to reconsider their retirement age policy because if they left at 45 they still could not get benefits from the Fiji National Provident Fund until 10 years later.
He said not reconsidering the retirement age would also lead to Air Pacific becoming a training ground for cabin crew who would then be recruited by overseas airline companies such as Emirates Airlines.
Attempts to get a comment from chief executive officer Air Pacific Limited, John Campbell yesterday were unsuccessful.
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When it rains.....
BJ