From Borneo Bull 22 Dec
Laid-off staff lament RBA restructuring
By Siti Hajar
Following the suspension of routes as part of a "stabilisation plan" announced by the Sultanate's national flagship carrier, Royal Brunei Airlines (RBA), in June earlier this year, the airlines yesterday disclosed that a number of its staff have been released from duty.
"Royal Brunei Airlines is continuing to restructure the organisation in line with the (recent) announcement in regards to the route stabilisation plan. As part of the plans, a number of cabin crewmembers have been released from duty to align with the rightsizing of the network, which took effect in October 2011," RBA said in a statement released to the Borneo Bulletin yesterday.
The letting go of about 100 crewmembers has had a significant impact on both foreign and local staff, according to an informed source.
A former cabin crewmember, recently released from her duty, who requested anonymity, expressed her discontent over this.
She claimed that this situation has left "many" cabin crewmembers "without much work".
Describing the situation as being "unjust and unfair", she lamented her grief for other cabin crewmembers who were recently let go, as "many of them have families at home to feed as well".
Rumours of downsizing have been circulating around RBA over the past three months, she said, adding that it was during this time that cabin crewmembers began to silently voice out their concerns.
According to her, crewmembers who were recently let go included those from Malaysia, China, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia. As a severance package, she was given a month's pay in advance.
She went on to say that other cabin crewmembers were feeling "abandoned", as "there was no valid reason to release them as they had given their best to the airline".
When asked what she would do now that she had to part ways with RBA, the former cabin crewmember told the Bulletin that she hoped to find work in her homeland as her dreams of being a stewardess had been shattered.
On June 21, RBA released a statement on its website about the need to suspend routes in order to move "forward with a comprehensive and sustainable plan to improve its operations, financial performance and customer service experience".
"It was not an easy decision to reduce RBA's route network. However, it is the first step towards creating a stronger foundation that will allow the airline to enhance our value to customers, employees, and society," said RBA's Deputy Chairman, Dermot Mannion